Shaquille O’Neal Joins Sacramento State as GM: A New Era for the Hornets

Shaquille O’Neal Joins Sacramento State as General Manager: A New Era for the Hornets

In a move that has the basketball world buzzing, Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to take on the role of general manager for the Sacramento State men’s basketball team. This exciting development was confirmed by sources to ESPN, and it marks a significant moment for the Hornets as they look to revitalize their program.

Interestingly, this role will be an unpaid, voluntary position for the Basketball Hall of Famer. The timing of this announcement is particularly noteworthy as Shaquille’s son, Shaqir O’Neal, is set to play for Sacramento State under the guidance of new coach Mike Bibby. Shaqir made the decision to transfer from Florida A&M in late March, adding another layer of intrigue to this family affair.

Shaquille O’Neal is not the first high-profile athlete to step into a general manager role at a school. Just last month, NBA superstar Stephen Curry was named an assistant GM at his alma mater, Davidson. Similarly, retired NFL quarterback Andrew Luck took on the GM position at Stanford last year. This trend of athletes transitioning into management roles at educational institutions is certainly one to watch.

Adding to the excitement, Sacramento State is on the verge of unveiling a new basketball facility on campus this fall. This development is part of a broader strategy by university president Luke Wood, who is an alum and notably the youngest president ever appointed in the California State University system. His aggressive approach to enhancing the athletic programs is evident, and the addition of Shaquille O’Neal is a testament to that vision.

The Hornets have also made a significant coaching change by hiring Mike Bibby, a 14-year NBA veteran and former Sacramento Kings star, last month. Bibby steps in to replace Michael Czepil, who served as interim head coach for the 2024-25 season after David Patrick left to become an associate head coach at LSU.

Looking at the Hornets’ recent performance, it’s clear that the program is in need of a turnaround. Sacramento State went 7-25 this past season under Czepil and had a 28-42 record over two seasons with Patrick at the helm. The program has yet to make an NCAA tournament appearance since moving up to Division I in 1991 and has only posted a winning record twice since then, with a 16-14 record in 2019-20 and a 21-12 record in 2014-15.

• Shaquille O’Neal’s new role as GM is voluntary and unpaid.
• Shaqir O’Neal, Shaquille’s son, will play for Sacramento State.
• Mike Bibby, a former NBA star, is the new head coach.
• Sacramento State is opening a new basketball facility this fall.
• The Hornets have struggled in recent seasons, with no NCAA tournament appearances since 1991.

With Shaquille O’Neal’s involvement, the Hornets are poised for a new chapter. His presence alone brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality that could inspire the team to reach new heights. As the basketball season approaches, all eyes will be on Sacramento State to see how this new leadership dynamic unfolds.