The Auburn Tigers are reportedly hiring a dedicated general manager for their basketball program, per On3's Justin Hokanson, who relayed that "Sources tell On3 that HC Steven Pearl is looking to hire a dedicated General Manager before the April 7 transfer portal window opens. With NIL and revenue-sharing reshaping the sport, Auburn aims to add a true front-office presence."
Matt Gatens was supposed to be in that role. Bruce Pearl's sudden retirement thrust Gatens into an on-court assistant role. It's unclear if Gatens will be reconsidered for that job, but smart money is on a big-name hire to spruce up a fanbase that's feeling down amid the team's worst season in five years.
Who would the smart money be on, then?
Bruce Pearl
The most obvious hire here would be Bruce, who'd reunite with Steven and essentially switch roles with him. Steven was the eye for talent during the latter years of Bruce's coaching tenure, though it was Bruce who built the 2018-19 Final Four team. The man knows how to find winners.
The biggest question is whether Bruce has the capacity to jump back into the fast-paced NIL/rev-share era when he's so politically involved. Can Bruce take a break from advocating for Israel and attacking Tucker Carlson long enough to have his head in the game? It felt like his final years on the Plains were half in, half out, as Steven picked up the slack.
Maybe Bruce can pay Steven back by becoming the next GM. He's already an ambassador for Auburn University. Why not continue to make a tangible impact on a Tigers fanbase he clearly still loves?
Kyle Church
If the Yellafella Jimmy Rane really wants to make an impact on Auburn athletics, he could make what'd be a shocking move and invest in one of the best basketball minds in the game with Michigan Wolverines GM Kyle Church.
Church has been working with Dusty May since their days with the Florida Atlantic Owls. FAU made their infamous Final Four run because of talent Church recruited and developed. Michigan is currently a juggernaut and the odds-on favorite to win the 2025/26 NCAA Tournament this April.
Church could build his legacy by rebuilding another strong brand in East Central Alabama next season, though it'd take a sizable check to lure the 15-year coaching vet away from such a good situation.
Rachel Baker
Speaking of luring established GMs in the NIL/rev-share era with big-money checks, Duke Blue Devils GM Rachel Baker is a great option, and perhaps the brightest star in the game for one very simple reason: she helped uphold the recruiting standards Coach K had after he retired from the sport in 2022.
Baker brought Cooper Flagg to Durham and oversaw the Blue Devils' 2024/2025 Final Four run, which also included Kon Knueppel, who's gone on to the NBA and proved to be a legitimate superstar in the making immediately by averaging 50/40/90 and being the fastest ever to hit 300 three-pointers.
With NBA and WNBA experience under her belt, Baker can help players understand what the pros will look like. Auburn probably doesn't have many, if any, long-term pros on the current squad, but they are not far removed from an era that included Dylan Cardwell, Walker Kessler, and Jabari Smith. Pro-level talent will be back in Lee County, Alabama, soon enough, and Baker could be a major asset to attract the best of the best.