New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May (right) arrives for his introductory press conference with President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri (left) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, June 29, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
For the second straight offseason, the Dallas Mavericks need to assemble another coaching staff.
New coach Dusty May’s first hire is expected to be Willie Green, according to a report from NBA insider Marc Stein. Green spent more than four seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans before being fired in November.
When Dusty May was introduced as the 11th head coach in franchise history on Monday, the first-time NBA coach said he expects to consider hiring assistants with experience around the league and the NCAA, as well as holdovers from Jason Kidd’s staff.
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“There’s gonna be a little bit of a college flavor. There’s gonna be NBA experience. There’s gonna be some retention,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what any of it looks like yet. The biggest difference is the size of the staff in the NBA and the amount of manpower we have to get things done. We’re gonna be very intentional and thorough to make sure everyone fits well together. Each guy complements each other. We all have the same value system. We’re gonna be a group that’s here for the players 100%.”
Kidd, who parted ways with the organization shortly after Masai Ujiri was named team president, had to add three new lead assistant coaches last year — Frank Vogel, Jay Triano and Popeye Jones — after several departures.
May arrives in Dallas after eight years as a college head coach. He spent the last two years bringing Michigan back to relevance and transformed Florida Atlantic into a Final Four contender in six years. When he made the leap to Michigan, he brought several assistants from FAU, which could be a trend he continues in the NBA.
Here’s more to know about Green and other candidates May could consider:
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New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green walks on the court during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Gerald Herbert/AP
Willie Green
May plans to add Green to his staff, according to a report from NBA insider Marc Stein. He spent over four seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans before he was fired in November amid a 2-10 start. Before his first head coaching job, he was an assistant with the Phoenix Suns from 2019 to 2021 and Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2019. The Warriors have also pursued him to rejoin Steve Kerr’s staff, according to reports. Green has a preexisting relationship with Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, who played for the Pelicans for four seasons from 2020 to 2024.
Adrian Griffin
A return to the NBA could be in the works for Griffin, who spent five seasons in Toronto while Ujiri was president of basketball operations. He last coached the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season. Griffin led the Bucks to a 30-13 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference before his dismissal. He was a longtime assistant before his first head coaching gig, with stints in Milwaukee, Chicago, Orlando and Oklahoma City in addition to Toronto.
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Noah LaRoche
LaRoche is a consultant for the Miami Heat who was reportedly a candidate for the Mavericks’ head coaching position. He was an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies under Taylor Jenkins and Tuomas Iisalo for one season before Miami hired him in November. He’s known for his creative offensive approach and philosophies and was largely responsible for helping the Heat’s rise to No. 1 in the NBA in pace.
Akeem Miskdeen
If May’s staff will indeed have a “college flavor,” why not hire someone who’s coached with him at both Florida Atlantic and Michigan. Miskdeen reunited with May in Ann Arbor after the pair previously worked together at FAU for three seasons. He has nearly two decades of coaching experience and has built a reputation for player development, a strength he shares with May.
Kyle Church
Church is May’s longest tenured assistant. The two have worked together for the last 13 years at Michigan, FAU and Louisiana Tech. He has more than 15 years of collegiate experience and served as an assistant and general manager for the Wolverines, overseeing roster management, player personnel, recruiting strategy and program operations while assisting with on-court coaching responsibilities.
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Dallas Mavericks summer league coach Josh Broghamer is interviewed by the media following their first summer league practice in Dallas, July 8, 2025.
Tom Fox/Staff Photographer
Josh Broghamer
It’s difficult to presume which assistants from Kidd’s staff will remain in Dallas. Broghamer has been with the Mavericks for the last three seasons. He served as the team’s Summer League coach last year and played a pivotal role in helping Cooper Flagg navigate his first season, assisting the Rookie of the Year during pregame workout routines.
Mist’s head coach Phil Handy gestures during the first half of the inaugural Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball game against the Lunar Owls, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Medley, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Marta Lavandier/AP
Phil Handy
Handy could also be a candidate to remain in Dallas. After Kidd’s departure, the longtime player development coach helped conduct predraft workouts with prospects. Handy has a prior relationship with Ujiri, dating to their time in Toronto, and strong relationships with Kyrie Irving and Max Christie.