Shaquille O\u2019Neal has joined the Sacramento State men\u2019s basketball program as general manager, the school confirmed Tuesday, making him the latest star to attach his name to a college program in a new trend this offseason.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neal will join first-year coach Mike Bibby\u2019s program in an unpaid, voluntary capacity. His son, Shaqir O\u2019Neal, recently transferred to Sacramento State after spending his junior season at Florida A&M and first three collegiate seasons with Texas Southern.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about more than banners and trophies, but preparing these student-athletes for life on and off the court,\u201d O\u2019Neal said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Bibby, the longtime NBA guard who spent more than six seasons with the Sacramento Kings, was hired as men\u2019s basketball coach<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n Multiple college programs have turned to current or former NBA stars this offseason to fill GM-type capacities. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry joined his alma mater, Davidson, as the men\u2019s basketball GM in March<\/a> and is helping create an eight-figure fund to support both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams. A few weeks later, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young signed on as the men\u2019s basketball assistant general manager for his alma mater, Oklahoma. Young also pledged to donate $1 million to the program. Fellow Hawks guard Terance Mann also joined his alma mater, Florida State, as assistant GM in early April.<\/p>\n