Mike Bibby spent 14 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2012, but a visit to his son’s basketball practice changed everything. Watching players who lacked focus and discipline bothered the former Kings star so much that he returned to coaching.
As Sacramento State’s 17th head coach, Bibby has brought his son, Michael Bibby Jr., along as associate head coach, creating a rare father-son duo determined to resurrect a program that finished tied for last in the Big Sky Conference.
Mike Bibby Admits Son May Be Next in Line for Head Coaching Role
Michael Bibby Jr., son of NBA legend Mike Bibby, played college basketball at USF and Appalachian State but chose not to pursue the NBA. Instead, the 27-year-old now serves as associate head coach under his father. His years of learning under his father’s guidance have shaped him into a promising young basketball coach.
Speaking on “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast, Bibby made it clear that his son may be ready to take the reins sooner than people think. “He surprised me a lot, like he takes over for me sometimes,” the coach said.
“I have to tell my son, ‘Calm down, relax, relax, we’re gonna get it done.’ But I mean, he wants to be a head coach, and you know that’s why I made him an associate head coach,” Bibby explained.
“Like if I ever get kicked out of the game, which I don’t plan on, but you know, he’ll take over. I mean, he wants to be a head coach, and I think he’ll be a head coach like within two or three years.”
Sacramento State’s basketball program has struggled for decades. The Hornets haven’t finished in the top five in the conference since the 2014-15 season, and they’ve never made the NCAA tournament since moving to Division I in 1991-92.
Last season’s 7-25 record, including a dismal 3-15 conference mark, left them tied for last place with Weber State.
Despite these challenges, Bibby arrives with impressive credentials. He was hired on March 25 after a dominant run at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, where he won five state championships and posted a remarkable 157-21 record over six seasons.
Mike Bibby returns to Sacramento 🤩
The former NBA star is headed to Sacramento State to serve as the new head coach of the Hornets 👏 pic.twitter.com/ftoQHJNwC5
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2025
The challenge ahead is significant for the father-and-son duo, as Bibby has never coached a college team before. However, his high school success, including leading Shadow Mountain (AZ) to a 72-game winning streak, demonstrated his ability to build and sustain winning programs.
If Bibby can bring even a fraction of that high school coaching magic to Sacramento, it could be enough to propel the Hornets back into the upper tier of the Big Sky Conference.
For now, fans are cautiously optimistic that this unique coaching partnership can finally turn around a program that has languished near the bottom for too long.
