Shaquille O'Neal Sacramento State job, explained: NBA Hall of Famer to become basketball GM for Hornets

The world of college sports continues to change. First, there was the transfer portal relaxing its regulations, and then the NIL laws have made the sport feel more like free agency.

Now, there are all of these general manager jobs popping up and nobody really knows that that means. 

College teams are starting to be run more and more like professional teams. This inclusion of general managers of certain sports is just beginning, but doesn't seem close to ending. We have seen former businessmen and current players becoming GMs for the school they went to, but some of the moves just leave you scratching your head. 

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal is the latest former hooper to get into the management side of college basketball — but not with a program you'd expect. 

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Here is more on O'Neal's new job and his connection to the program. 

Shaquielle O'Neal Sacramento State job

O'Neal has agreed to become the new general manager of basketball for Sacramento State. The basketball program is in the NCAA's Division 1 Big Sky conference, while the football team currently competes at the FCS level, although they have applied to be moved up to FBS.

O'Neal's role with the school will reportedly be unpaid and voluntary, per ESPN's Shams Charania. He joins the likes of Stephen Curry, who was named an Assistant GM for his alma mater, Davidson, and Trae Young, who did the same at Oklahoma.

The hope is that O'Neal's influence will help right the Hornets' ship. Sacramento State has been at the Division 1 level since 1991, but has never made the NCAA or NIT tournaments and has only posted a winning record twice. 

Did Shaquille O'Neal go to Sacramento State?

Nope. O'Neal played his college ball at LSU.

His son Shaquir, however, transferred from Florida A&M to join Sacramento State next season. The younger O'Neal will play for new head coach Mike Bibby, who spent 14 seasons playing in the NBA. Bibby never played with Shaq during their careers. 

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Where did Shaquille O'Neal go to college?

O'Neal went to LSU from 1989-1992. He was then the first overall pick by the Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft. The 7-1 center was a beast in college long before he dominated the NBA.

Here are his per-game stats from his three seasons with the Tigers.