Mike Bibby Takes Helm at Sacramento State, Reunites with Shaquille O’Neal—This Time as a Coach

Mike Bibby and Shaquille O’Neal are set to cross paths once again—but this time, it’s in an entirely different setting. Gone are the days of their heated Kings-Lakers rivalry and on-court battles. Now, Bibby is stepping into his new role as the head coach of Sacramento State, while Shaq is simply a proud father, watching his son, Shaqir O’Neal, commit to playing under the former Kings star.

Bibby and O’Neal may not have always seen eye to eye back in their NBA days, but now, they share mutual respect. “Me and Shaq have a good relationship. It probably wasn’t good when we were playing against each other,” Bibby said with a smile at his official introduction on Tuesday. “Back then, we were trying to build up a rivalry and make it big-time in the league.”

With Bibby’s arrival, Sacramento State could become a magnet for more NBA sons looking to develop their game. The 46-year-old coach’s phone has been buzzing non-stop since his hiring, and he admits he barely has time for his usual daily naps. But he’s fully locked in on turning the Hornets around after their difficult 7-25 season last year.

“How awesome is this? Look at our new head coach,” Sacramento State athletic director Mark Orr said. “This introduction marks a major turning point for our program. Our university is on the rise, and Bibby is the perfect leader to take us forward.”

Bibby, who retired from the NBA in 2012, has built an impressive coaching résumé. He led Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix to five state championships, coached 25 players who went on to earn college scholarships, and worked with the Puerto Rican National Team, the NBA Summer League, and the G-League Ignite. Now, he’s eager to bring that success to Sacramento State.

“Mike isn’t just a basketball legend; he’s a Sacramento legend,” said Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood. “The city embraced him during his NBA career, and now he’s giving back by leading our program. He understands the spirit of this place—grit, pride, determination—and he’s ready to build something special here.”

Despite interest from high-profile coaching candidates, Orr said he kept returning to Bibby, whom he considers “one of the greatest basketball minds this city has ever seen.” More importantly, Bibby is deeply invested in Sacramento and wants to leave a lasting impact.

“I’m not here just to be here,” Bibby said. “I don’t want to let the city down, and I’m going to do my hardest not to. These kids are trying to get to where I’ve been, and who better to learn from than someone who’s been there?”

Bibby knows what it takes to win. He captured an NCAA title with Arizona in 1997 and enjoyed a 14-season NBA career, spending seven years with the Kings. He helped Sacramento reach the 2002 Western Conference Finals, where they fell in a controversial Game 7 against O’Neal’s Lakers. Now, he’s bringing that championship mentality to the Hornets.

Sacramento State players are eager to get started under their new coach.

“He’s a legend, and I think the city needs somebody that reflects that,” said senior guard EJ Neal. “He’s an icon in Sacramento.”

Bibby isn’t wasting any time setting the tone. His practices will be intense and precise—"We do it hard, or we do it again.” He plans to schedule top-tier non-conference opponents, believing “they’ll overlook us.” And he has no doubt that his team will make a statement—"I have plans of taking this conference by storm.”

Senior forward Jalen Pitre echoed that excitement. “Having a coach who will push us, hold us accountable, and help us get to the next level is huge,” he said.

For Bibby, this is a full-circle moment. The emotion was evident as he addressed the media.

“I’m at a loss for words right now,” Bibby admitted. “I’m nervous, as you guys can tell. But I’m ready. I’ve been ready for this for a long time.”