The Dallas Mavericks are preparing for a wide-ranging head coaching search after moving on from Jason Kidd, with two early names emerging as potential targets: Sean Sweeney and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, Sweeney is expected to generate significant interest from Dallas, while Scheyer is also expected to be contacted despite being committed to his current role at Duke.
Sweeney’s coaching profile includes multiple NBA stops and a recent return to the Western Conference. He previously served as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Mavericks from 2021 to 2025 before joining the San Antonio Spurs as associate head coach in 2025.
His familiarity with the Mavericks’ roster structure and internal processes is a notable factor as the franchise enters a new phase under team president Masai Ujiri. Dallas is also evaluating internal alignment around its roster core, which includes Kyrie Irving and 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg.
Scheyer represents a different profile as a high-level college head coach with championship experience as both a player and staff member. He played at Duke before a professional stint overseas and later transitioned into coaching, rising from assistant to associate head coach before taking over the program in 2022.
Since becoming head coach, Scheyer has guided Duke to consistent conference success, including ACC tournament titles and a Final Four appearance in 2025. He was also named NABC Coach of the Year and ACC Coach of the Year in 2026, reflecting his recent rise in the college ranks.
The Mavericks’ coaching search follows the organization’s decision to part ways with Kidd, which Ujiri described as part of a broader effort to establish clearer direction and structural alignment. Dallas has emphasized a long-term approach built around roster development rather than short-term contention pressure.
