By Jack Freeman | Special to The OBSERVER
Former Sacramento Kings star Mike Bibby has been waiting for this moment.
For years, the longtime NBA veteran has called Sacramento State Athletic Director Mark Orr to express his interest in becoming the next Hornets men’s basketball coach.
On Tuesday at his introductory press conference in the Sacramento State Welcome Center, that dream officially became a reality.
“Just kept telling Mark, ‘I’m here, I’m here,’ but it wasn’t time,” Bibby said.
“I think now is the right time.”
Bibby cited two factors that made the time right: Sacramento State’s investment into its athletic program and his faith.
“God made it the right time,” Bibby said. “I’ve had other interviews. Nothing panned out and I started wondering why, why, why, and I think it’s because God had this ready for me sitting in the background.”
Bibby, 46, becomes the 17th head coach of Hornets men’s hoops, a program that has struggled to find success. Despite the Hornets coming off a 7-25 season that was derailed from the jump, Bibby said he plans on competing right away.
“There hasn’t been a lot of winning here and people might look at me crazy, but I’m trying to change that this year,” Bibby said. “I have plans to take this conference by storm.”
The Hornets plan to take over the Big Sky Conference with a fast-paced, run-and-gun style that Bibby said will “run other teams out of the gym.” Bibby added he wants a style of offense similar to the NBA, but with reduced three-point shooting.
“It’s more fun, you get to play loose. You get to come here and you don’t have to play like a robot,” Bibby said. “I want these kids to feel freedom out there on the court. As long as they don’t play selfish but play hard, you can play for me.”
There will be a significant emphasis on training and tough practices. Bibby referenced his work ethic in college as inspiration for the way he wants his team to play.
“We are going to be gritty, we are going to be in shape for sure,” Bibby said. “We’ll pick up full court, make the defense play into our offense. If you play at a certain pace, that team is going to try and keep up with that, and if they aren’t ready for that it’s going to backfire.”
While Bibby noted his lack of time spent on the job, he said he has had several former NBA players call him about their kids coming to Sacramento State. The first to commit was the son of Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, who spent last season at Florida A&M.
“They’re looking to get their sons in the right program, give their sons the chance to play,” Bibby said. “We are going to look at everything. … I’ve probably gotten 200 videos of kids who want to come here and play.”
Bibby got his start coaching his 9-year-old son’s basketball team, which progressed into a five-year stint as coach at Shadow Mountain High School in Arizona. There he led the Matadors to a 157-21 record, including a 72-game winning streak.
New Hornets football Coach Brennan Marion attended Bibby’s introduction and Bibby said that Marion’s recruiting class, which ranked first in the Football Championship Subdivision, is just the start for Sacramento State.
“He already showed you what he can do in recruiting; I’m about to show you what I can do recruiting,” Bibby said. “It’s going to be a big turnaround.”
The press conference highlighted the connection between Bibby and Sacramento.
“He’s a Sacramento legend,” Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood said. “The city embraced him during his NBA years, and he’s returning that love by choosing to lead our program.”
Dr. Wood noted that Bibby embodies the spirit of Sacramento, a gritty, prideful city with a chip on its shoulder. Orr said the school had interest from all levels, but Bibby perfectly fit what they were looking for.
“We were looking for someone who sees Sacramento State as a destination place,” Orr said. “That they wanted to be here, that they were rooted in our community and that they had the expertise to lead young people.”
Bibby said he views Sacramento from the vantage point of the player who jump-started his NBA career and feels it will do the same for his coaching career.
“I’m not satisfied just being here,” Bibby said. “I don’t want to let this city down.”