In an unexpected announcement on Monday, the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry has taken on a role as assistant general manager at his alma mater, Davidson. The move was first announced by ESPN’s Shams Charania and is significant due to the current NBA star becoming the first professional athlete in any sport to take on a job of this nature for an NCAA program.
Curry’s role will reportedly see him serve as an advisor for all athletic teams on campus with an emphasis on guiding college athletes through the ups and downs of the student-athlete experience. In doing so, he will be working closely with general manager, Austin Buntz, who was offered the role in 2021 after previously working in the marketing department at Under Armour.
Curry Latest Star In NIL-Related Trend
By returning to his college roots, Curry will team up with head coach Matt McKillop, who was an assistant for Curry’s final two years. McKillop is in his third year as the lead man and is still seeking his first above .500 season. Aid will be coming his way, though. Along with stepping in as assistant GM, Curry will head up an eight-figure fund for both the men’s and women’s programs as part of the growing NIL business across college athletics. Ayesha Curry will also contribute to the fund along with Davidson supporters Don, Matt, and Eric Berman, according to Charania.
Curry joins a growing list of notable sports figures contributing to collegiate funds and even serving specific roles on campus. Adrian Wojnarowski stole headlines when he left the reporting industry to become the general manager at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. Fellow NBA star, James Harden, has been involved in a six-figure fund at Arizona State, as has Charles Barkley at Auburn University.
Curry’s Davidson Stardom: Recruiting Selling Point
From 2006 to 2009, Curry suited up at Davidson and helped to put the program on the map after spearheading its improbable Elite Eight run as a sophomore. A two-time All-American, Curry also led the NCAA in scoring in his final season en route to becoming the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
With Curry’s presence, it should increase Davidson’s recruiting pitches to its athletes, specifically for both basketball teams. Having someone of his stature present throughout the college experience should be an enticing offer for potential recruits. Additionally, the creation of an eight-figure fund gives Davidson a stronger shot of bringing in higher-level athletes than they typically could afford through its NIL initiatives.
This news gives Davidson hope it can see improvement across all of its athletic teams. Since the Curry era, the men’s hoops team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament five times, and none of those visits went past the opening weekend. The Wildcats now have reason to believe they can get back to their winning ways, and what better way of doing so than bringing in the person directly responsible for a majority of the program’s national branding who also is one of the most recognizable athletes in America?
