DHJ Quick Take: Mike Schmitz Says Mavericks Coaching Search Will Stick to Process With No Timeline Set
- No Timeline, Process First: General manager Mike Schmitz said the Mavericks have no exact timeline for their head coaching hire and are focused on identifying the right traits and making the best long-term decision for the franchise.
- What Dallas Wants in the Hire: Schmitz emphasized leadership, clear communication, collaboration, organizational alignment, and the ability to build strong connections with players and staff as the core traits the front office is prioritizing.
- Open on Experience: Asked whether Dallas is leaning toward an experienced head coach over a first-time hire, Schmitz said the team is “looking at everything.”
- Ujiri Leading the Search: Team president Masai Ujiri is leading the coaching search alongside Schmitz. The two have a working relationship spanning more than a decade, with Schmitz saying he is “following his lead” on the day-to-day operations.
DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz said Friday the team has no timeline for hiring its next head coach and is focused on identifying the right traits before making the decision.
Schmitz addressed the search during a roundtable with reporters at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks parted with Jason Kidd earlier this offseason and have been working through a process led by team president Masai Ujiri and Schmitz.
“We’re being very thorough in our approach and just continuing to kind of stick to our process there and evaluating everything. So no official update on that,” Schmitz said. “We don’t have an exact timeline for it, and our goal is to focus on a handful of the traits that we’re looking for, evaluate the market and make the best decision possible for the franchise. Obviously, we understand that this is a huge decision and one we’re going to do everything we can to get right.”
What the Dallas Mavericks Are Seeking
Schmitz outlined what the front office is looking for in the next head coach.
“You want a great leader. You want a clear communicator, someone who collaborates, someone who is invested in the alignment of the organization, someone who builds strong connections with the players and with the staff,” Schmitz said. “But not every person is the same, right? Some people have greater strengths here, some people have greater strengths there. So you’re evaluating all those things. Those are some of the characteristics that we’re looking for.”
Schmitz was asked whether Dallas is leaning toward an experienced head coach over a first-time hire. He said the front office is open on that question.
“We’re looking at everything,” Schmitz said.
The Stakes of the Hire
The decision is one of the most consequential of Schmitz’s early tenure. Dallas is constructing a roster around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the team’s emerging franchise face.
The next head coach will be tasked with developing Flagg, reintegrating Kyrie Irving after his recovery from a torn ACL, and shaping a roster that blends veteran impact players with a rebuilt long-term core.
Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 games as a rookie. Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in his last full season before tearing his ACL in 2024-25.
Ujiri, who joined the Mavericks earlier this month, is leading the coaching search alongside Schmitz. The pair have a working relationship that spans more than a decade.
“Doing everything I can to help support Masai and work in conjunction with him. We’ve had a long-standing relationship, known each other for over a decade,” Schmitz said. “Really just following his lead as best I can and working to manage the day-to-day operations here.”
The Mavericks have not publicly identified candidates. Dallas was described as still earlier in its search than the Chicago Bulls, who are also looking to fill a head coaching vacancy this offseason. The Mavericks open the 2026-27 season this fall.
Latest Mavericks News & Rumors At Dallas Hoops Journal
- Mike Schmitz Sees Kyrie Irving ‘Completely Locked In’ Around Dallas Mavericks Facility
- Why Masai Ujiri Parted With Matt Riccardi But Kept The Door Open For Michael Finley
- Sources: Multiple NBA Contenders Interested In Trading For Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving
- Why Masai Ujiri Moved On From Jason Kidd To Build Around Cooper Flagg
- Dallas Mavericks ‘Mutually Agree’ To Part Ways With Jason Kidd, Begin Search For Head Coach
- Why Keeping Kyrie Irving Is The Smartest Move For Cooper Flagg’s Early Timeline
- Mike Schmitz Opens Up On Quick Rise To Dallas Mavericks GM Chair
