Report: Mike Bibby hired as head coach of Sacramento State

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, former NBA star Mike Bibby is set to become the next head coach at Sacramento State. Bibby has coaching experience in the past but only at the high school level. Now, he gets the opportunity with a Division I school.

“Mike Bibby, a 14-year NBA veteran and former Sacramento Kings star, has agreed on a deal to become the next men’s basketball head coach of Sacramento State, sources tell ESPN,” Charania said via X.

Hillcrest Prep High School is where Bibby last coached in 2019, serving as the head coach. Shadow Mountain gave him a start dating back to 2013. Two seasons were spent as an assistant before being promoted. In total, Bibby was the headman at a high school for six seasons.

As Charania mentioned in his report, the connection between the city of Sacramento and Bibby goes back to his NBA days. Bibby was a star for the Kings after being drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. In six full seasons, the Kings made the playoffs five times with Bibby on the roster.

Bibby’s college playing days were even better. He was the No. 2 overall pick after being a 1998 consensus All-American at Arizona. His number is retired by the program due to his individual accolades but Bibby won a national championship with the Wildcats too in 1997.

Now back in the college age, Bibby finds himself on the coaching side. Something new for him as Sacramento State grabs a big name to be their next head coach.

More on Sacramento State, program history

The Sacramento State program is still a relatively new one at the Division I level, only being around for three decades. Just two of those have resulted in winning seasons, with the 2014-2015 season the Hornets’ best at 21-12. There is one year at exactly .500.

No silverware is currently in the trophy case going up against D-I foes. Sacramento State did make a few Division II NCAA Tournaments, even making the national championship game in 1962. But since making the jump in 1991, there have been no regular season titles, conference tournament championships, or appearances in the NCAA Tournaments.

Sacramento State is currently a member of the Big Sky, going 3-15 in conference play last season, and finishing dead last. Bibby will be the third head coach in as many years, replacing Michael Czepil after David Patrick was in charge.