Notre Dame Basketball Breaks New Ground with Hiring of Pat Garrity '98

On Tuesday, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua announced the hiring of former Irish basketball alum Pat Garrity ‘98 as General Manager of the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs. Additionally, he will serve as the Men’s Primary Administrator.

Photo via Notre Dame Athletics

Garrity was a star during his playing days in South Bend, racking up numerous awards including three All-Big East selections and the 1997 Big East Player of the Year. While his teams ultimately struggled to find success during his time, he certainly left his mark with 2,085 career points, the fifth-most in Irish history.  

During the 1998 NBA Draft, Garrity was selected 19th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in a draft-day trade. The next summer, the former Irish star was traded to the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster headlined by Penny Hardaway. Garrity would spend the final nine seasons of his NBA career with the Magic, mostly serving as a key role player. Notably, he served seven seasons as the NBPA secretary/treasurer during his time in Orlando. 

Following his playing days, Garrity joined the Detroit Pistons front office as Director of Strategic Planning in 2014. Just two years later, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager, a role in which he served for four years before stepping aside in 2020. 

According to Notre Dame’s official press release, “Garrity will be tasked with developing long-term roster management strategies for both programs. He’ll work to establish a clear vision in recruiting and the transfer portal, while working hand-in-hand with the NIL office on a financial asset allocation strategy. As the sport administrator for the men’s program, other key components of Garrity’s role include, but aren’t limited to, the development of annual strategic goals, team personnel management, budget analysis, revenue generation and fundraising, alumni relations and facility management.” 

With the recent implementation of general managers in college football and basketball, it was time for Notre Dame to make their move on the hardwood. The addition of Garrity addresses this need with someone who has a real connection to South Bend and an understanding of what it takes to succeed in an Irish uniform.

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