Shaquille O'Neal named Sacramento State men's basketball GM
Former LSU star Shaquille O’Neal became the latest current or former star athlete to be named general manager of a college athletics program.
Sacramento State announced Tuesday morning the hiring of the four-time NBA champion, 15-time NBA All-Star, 14-time All-NBA selection and Olympic gold medalist to work with the Hornets’ men’s basketball program.
“Dr. Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to serve as the General Manager of Sacramento State Men’s Basketball,” the program shared in a release. “O’Neal joins the program shortly after the appointment of former Sacramento Kings star Mike Bibby to head men’s basketball coach. O’Neal will focus on recruitment, marketing and holistic player development — both on and off the court.
“O’Neal has waived a salary and will serve in a volunteer capacity.”
Shaq’s son, Shaqir O’Neal, transferred to the Hornets this spring and will be a junior heading into next season.
The former three-star prep prospect spent his past four years with a pair of SWAC programs: three at Texas Southern and this past campaign at Florida A&M.
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Shaqir, a 6-foot-8 forward, played in 27 games, including 15 starts, for the Rattlers and averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds on 50% shooting (65-for-129) from the field and 41% (17-for-42) from beyond the arc.
Shaq is an LSU Hall-of-Famer after a three-season career under coach Dale Brown from 1989 to 1992 during which he was a two-time SEC Player of the Year, two-time SEC Male Athlete of the Year and two-time consensus All-American.
He was selected No. 1 overall in 1992 by the Orlando Magic to tip off a 19-year NBA career, while also tackling a wide range of off-court interests in business, entertainment and other realms — including now 14 seasons running on the popular “Inside the NBA” show on TNT.
ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the news of his hire at Sacramento State late Monday.
