In response to the changing landscape of collegiate athletics, more and more college athletic departments are turning to general managers to navigate the complexities of NIL, the transfer portal, and managing budgets. The recent move of former ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski to a GM position with St. Bonaventure basketball has shed light on this growing trend. Arizona State’s athletic director Graham Rossini expressed the merit of this concept, highlighting the need for specialization in scouting and roster management as college coaches juggle coaching, recruiting, and player development.
Rossini, who returned to Arizona State after working in professional sports, emphasized the importance of adapting to the evolving collegiate athletics environment, citing NIL as a major factor. College football programs have long implemented a pro football-like system, and now basketball programs are following suit. Duke was the first to hire a college hoops general manager in 2022, with other programs like the University of Arizona and Alabama also making significant investments in GM roles.
Rossini believes that with more at stake in college sports, having a dedicated group of staff focused on future roster composition can complement the work of current coaches in developing talent. As the industry continues to evolve, the role of general managers in college athletics is expected to grow.Overall, the concept of hiring general managers in collegiate athletics is gaining momentum as programs look to optimize their operations in a competitive landscape.
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