University Sports Updates: Sacramento State Appoints Shaquille O'Neal
Scoop on Shaquille O'Neal's New Role
Vegas legend Shaquille O'Neal is stepping into a fresh chapter, this time as the big boss of Sacramento State's men's basketball program. It's all happening under new coach Mike Bibby, ya'll. A sneaky insider revealed the four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer will be decked out in his GM duds for this new gig.
The lid was blown off this secret when a person "in the know" spilled the beans Monday. Shaquille's isn't being forced to don the general manager's clothes, mind you—his son, Shaqir, recently joined the team as a player, sparking this family affair. And the school ain't said anything official yet, but everybody's already clued in.
Bibby, who used to shine for the Sacramento Kings, was recently hired as head coach as the school looks to raise its game in collegiate athletics. The Hornets' first move after getting Bibby on board? Snagging Shaqir O'Neal from Florida A&M. Now with Shaquille in the mix, Bibby's crew is stacked with some serious star power.
High-profile athletes can't resist the allure of college general manager positions. Stephen Curry recently took up the assistant GM spot at Davidson, while Trae Young now holds the same position at Oklahoma.
Shaquille's impressive NBA résumé is no joke: four titles, three NBA Finals MVPs, and even a league MVP to boast. He's currently keeping it real on TNT's "Inside the NBA" show. Before the curtains closed, Shaquille also had a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022.
With Sacramento State going 7-25 in the 2024-25 season, they could certainly use Shaquille's Midas touch. The Hornets' last winning record? Just twice in the past 30 years, hitting 16-14 in 2019-20 and 21-12 in 2014-15.
In the Limelight
- Despite his busy schedule on TNT's "Inside the NBA" show, Shaquille O'Neal, the four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, has agreed to take on the role of general manager for Sacramento State's men's basketball program.
- Interestingly, this new role is not entirely unexpected, given that Shaquille's son, Shaqir, recently joined the team as a player, creating a family affair.
- As the school looks to boost its sports profile, this move could potentially bring a significant impact, much like how league MVP Stephen Curry has influenced Davidson's assistant GM position and Trae Young at Oklahoma.
