Arizona women’s basketball is getting its first general manager. New head coach Becky Burke announced the hiring of Michelle Marciniak for the position on Thursday afternoon.
Marciniak will serve as the “strategic architect of Arizona’s long-term vision,” according to the department’s press release. What that means in real terms is addressing operations, staffing, roster management, global recruiting, and NIL development.
Marciniak will also serve as an advisor to Burke, perhaps folding the former position of special assistant to the head coach into her duties. Last year, the special assistant essentially served as a fourth assistant coach but the position was always loosely defined.
Marciniak comes to Arizona after success as a player, a coach, and a co-CEO. She played for Pat Summitt at Tennessee, earning Most Outstanding Player honors after leading her team to the national championship in 1996. It was part of back-to-back Final Four appearances with the Lady Vols.
Marciniak played professionally in both the ABL and the WNBA. She went into coaching following her playing career then transitioned to the corporate world.
She was the co-founder of SHEEX, a “performance bedding” company. She helped lead the company for 17 years.
The general manager position has become popular around college sports. The men’s program at Arizona does not have the official title but some of the general duties Marciniak is charged with are assigned to other positions, such as the president of basketball operations. That position is separate from the director of basketball operations. The men’s team also has a director of player relations. Arizona football has a chief of staff, a general manager, an assistant athletic director for football operations, and an executive director of player relations that partially align with the position Marciniak will hold.