Almost 32 years after playing Arizona at McKale Center with top-ranked Tennessee, coached by legendary Pat Summitt at the time, Michelle Marciniak will try to enhance the Wildcats’ program as the progam’s first general manager.
New Arizona coach Becky Burke has hired Marciniak, an NCAA champion with the Lady Vols and WNBA veteran, to fill the necessary role of GM in today’s college sports landscape.
As the GM, Marciniak will serve as the strategic architect of Arizona’s long-term vision engineered by Burke.
According to an Arizona press release made public Thursday, “(Marciniak’s) core responsibilities include program operations, staffing, roster management, global recruiting and NIL development. She will also act as a trusted advisor to Burke, aligning on program culture, leadership and national brand strategy.”
Burke said in the release that Arizona has “hit an absolute home run with the addition of Michelle Marciniak to Arizona women’s basketball.”
“She was one of the best players in the history of our game and is also one of the most successful businesswomen in the country,” Burke added. “To have someone of Michelle’s caliber around our young women every day is one of the biggest blessings we could provide. Her experience, connections and knowledge are second to none, but her competitive spirit and passion for the game are what make her, her. Michelle’s mentorship of our players will be invaluable.”
Marciniak, 51, played with the Lady Vols at McKale as a sophomore in the 1993-94 season after transferring from Notre Dame.
She led Summitt’s teams to two SEC championships, back-to-back Final Four appearances and the 1995-96 NCAA national championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors as a senior.
In the game at Arizona on Dec. 7, 1993, Marciniak scored eight points, including a 3-pointer, as a starter in Tennessee’s 65-63 escape of a win against Joan Bonvicini’s burgeoning program. The announced attendance was 2,617, a very large crowd by Arizona’s standards at the time.
The following season, Marciniak had five points in Tennessee’s 109-57 win over Arizona at Knoxville, Tenn.
“Adding Michelle Marciniak to the Arizona women’s basketball staff is a fantastic move,” Bonvicini said in the release. “She’s a proven winner as a player and also had a great career in the WNBA. Her addition as a successful entrepreneur will provide valuable resources to the program. She will be extremely successful.”
Marciniak is also the co-founder of SHEEX, the world’s first performance bedding company, which she led for 17 years as co-CEO. Under her leadership, SHEEX raised more than $25 million in capital, secured 53 patents across 24 countries and became a globally recognized brand featured by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and O, The Oprah Magazine.
A Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, Marciniak was the first female student-athlete from Tennessee to receive the prestigious NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for professional achievement and community impact. She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Board of Governors for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and is the co-founder of Pedal for Alzheimer’s, a charitable platform honoring Summitt’s legacy.
After her Tennessee career concluded in 1996, Marciniak went on to play professionally for six seasons in the ABL and WNBA before transitioning into coaching. As an assistant at South Carolina, she served as recruiting coordinator and signed a nationally ranked top-10 class.
HOME. RUN.
Tucson, please welcome @mmarciniak3
— Becky Burke (@beckyburke11) April 17, 2025
“I’m truly honored to step into the GM role at Arizona,” Marciniak said in the release. “This opportunity brings together everything I care deeply about — the business of basketball, leadership, and building something meaningful alongside others. I’ve been shaped by a championship mindset, and I’m committed to contributing in a way that honors the incredible foundation already in place.
“With deep respect for (Arizona athletic director) Desireé (Reed-Francois), Becky, our staff and the entire Arizona community, my goal is to help elevate the Arizona women’s basketball brand and build a sustainable national championship program. I’m excited to work together on a thoughtful, strategic path forward.”
Marciniak added, “I believe in Becky — she’s the reason I said, ‘Yes,’ to coming to Arizona.”
“Becky is a fierce competitor with a passion for the game that deeply resonates with me,” Marciniak stated. “She wants to win — and she’s a proven winner. She has both the basketball IQ and the emotional intelligence to be a truly successful coach.
“What sets her apart is her conviction, her humility and the way she leads with purpose and an all-in mentality that inspires everyone around her.”
Esteemed ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck, who coached Purdue to the NCAA title in 1998-99, praised the hire of Marciniak.
“Arizona hit a home run by selecting Michelle as the General Manager,” Peck mentioned in the release. “She has a winning pedigree not only as an athlete but also as a businesswoman. She is a builder and a connector. The Wildcats are in great hands.”
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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