Damian Lillard Takes on New Role in College Basketball
Damian Lillard, known for his outstanding career in the NBA, returns to the university setting, but this time from a managerial position. The talented player has been named general manager of Weber State, the university where he shone in his early days. The announcement was made on Saturday night in Ogden, Utah, during the Weber State Basketball Alumni Classic event, organized by Lillard himself.The role of general manager has gained relevance in college basketball and football, especially with the growing influence of the transfer portal, NIL, and other changes in college sports. Lillard, who was twice Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) during his three seasons at Weber State, before departing in 2011-12, joins the list of prominent figures taking on these types of roles. During his college years, Lillard was the program’s only All-American and ranks fourth in scoring and third in three-pointers in Weber State history. The university has stated that Lillard “will work closely with the coaching staff and the leadership of the athletic department to provide information, mentoring, and guidance, using his experience at the collegiate and professional levels to elevate the program”. Lillard, a nine-time NBA All-Star, recently renewed his contract with the Trail Blazers after being released by the Milwaukee Bucks. Currently, Lillard, 35, is in the process of recovering from an injury to his left Achilles tendon suffered in April and is unlikely to play in the 2025-26 season.“My relationship with coach [Eric] Duft and this program means a lot to me, and seeing the success of the program means a lot to me. I feel like I can do a lot to help the program succeed, to help the players, even individually, continue to develop their careers beyond college, that’s something I’m passionate about,” Lillard stated.
Damian Lillard
