@bskeet i just unleashed Claude on the GM question a little bit… spoiler: several of those schools also dont have a gm.
The Comparative Picture
Here’s what the research surfaced about the programs on your list:
Programs with a Formal GM
Duke — Rachel Baker was hired in 2022 when Scheyer took over, bringing Nike and NBA experience. Duke had the best recruiting class in the ACC heading into that season.
UConn — Tom Moore had been serving in a dual assistant coach/GM role and shifted to full-time GM duties in 2025. He’s an internal guy — a long-time Hurley assistant who knows the culture.
Arkansas — John Calipari brought Woolard, a long-time Kentucky staffer, over to Arkansas and named him general manager when he took the job.
Michigan — A Dusty May confidant maintained assistant coach duties while doubling as Michigan’s general manager.
Programs without a GM
Florida — Won the 2025 title without a formal GM. Their staff includes a Director of Basketball Operations and a Director of Basketball Strategy & Analytics, but no GM title. Todd Golden handles roster construction personally through collective “Florida Victorious.”
Houston — No GM. Sampson has been blunt about budget limitations: “We have a poor athletic department. We’re poor… The way our recruiting is going, we have to stop at some point because we don’t have enough money.” Their success is coach-culture-driven.
Arizona — No GM. Uses a traditional DOBO structure. Lloyd noted he was surprised by the scale of the NIL market explosion in 2025, navigating it without a dedicated front-office hire.
Purdue — No GM found. Matt Painter’s model is built on development and in-state loyalty.
Gonzaga — No GM. A new assistant AD/coaching role was created to handle NIL and financial literacy education, but nothing resembling a traditional GM structure — fitting for a small private school with a lower NIL budget.
Kansas — Self explicitly chose not to hire a GM, instead promoting Jeremy Case to associate head coach and Lexi Price to Director of Operations.
The big pattern: The GM trend is real, but Florida’s 2025 championship and Houston’s title-game run prove it isn’t required. What the GM schools share is a willingness to treat the program like a franchise — separating roster/cap management from coaching. What the non-GM successes share (Florida, Houston, Arizona) is a head coach personally engaged in the NIL/portal process, often with elite-level cultural buy-in from players. Kansas sits awkwardly — declining to build the infrastructure while also struggling on the court lately, which makes Self’s choice more scrutinized.
