Shaquille O’Neal Takes on New Role as Sacramento State’s GM
In a move that has the basketball world buzzing, Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to become the general manager of the Sacramento State men’s basketball team. This exciting development was confirmed by sources to ESPN, and it marks another chapter in the storied career of the Basketball Hall of Famer.
Interestingly, this role will be an unpaid, voluntary position for O’Neal. It’s a testament to his passion for the game and his desire to support his son, Shaqir O’Neal, who will be playing for Sacramento State under the guidance of new coach Mike Bibby. Shaqir made the decision to transfer from Florida A&M to join the Hornets in late March.
Shaquille O’Neal is not the only high-profile athlete to take on a general manager role at a school. Recently, NBA superstar Stephen Curry was named an assistant GM at his alma mater, Davidson. Similarly, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks holds the same position at Oklahoma. Even retired NFL quarterback Andrew Luck took on the GM role at his old school, Stanford, last year.
O’Neal’s illustrious career includes four NBA titles, three NBA Finals MVPs, and a league MVP during his 19-year tenure in the NBA. Currently, he is an analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” show. He also has experience in team management, having served as a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022.
As Sacramento State gears up to open a new basketball facility on campus this fall, the university is making bold moves to elevate its athletic programs. University president Luke Wood, an alum and the youngest president ever appointed in the California State University system, has been proactive in his approach, and the addition of Shaquille O’Neal is a significant part of that strategy.
The Hornets recently hired Mike Bibby, a 14-year NBA veteran and former Kings star, as their new head coach. Bibby takes over from 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.
Last season, Sacramento State struggled with a 7-25 record under Czepil. The team has faced challenges in recent years, going 28-42 in two campaigns 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 21-12 record in 2014-15 and a 16-14 record in 2019-20.
- Shaquille O’Neal’s new role is voluntary and unpaid.
- His son, Shaqir O’Neal, will play for Sacramento State.
- Mike Bibby is the new head coach of the Hornets.
- Sacramento State has not made an NCAA tournament since 1991.
With Shaquille O’Neal’s involvement, Sacramento State is poised for an exciting new era. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this legendary figure’s influence will impact the Hornets’ fortunes on the court.
Originally Written by: Shams Charania
