Michigan women’s basketball hires Sean Bair as assistant coach and GM

Q: Who is Sean Bair and what role will he play at Michigan women's basketball?

Sean Bair is the newly hired assistant coach and general manager for Michigan women's basketball, previously serving at Penn State.

Q: What did Natalie Achonwa do after leaving Michigan women's basketball?

Natalie Achonwa left Michigan to take an assistant coaching position with the Seattle Storm.

Q: What achievements did Michigan women's basketball have last season?

Michigan women's basketball posted a 28-7 record and reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

Q: How will Sean Bair contribute to Michigan women's basketball's success?

Bair will focus on recruiting, player development, and enhancing the program's engagement with alumni and donors in the NIL landscape.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Assistant Coaches Sean Bair and Adrianne Motley of the Penn State Lady Lions react to a play against the USC Trojans at Galen Center on January 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images The college basketball general manager role has increasingly become a new normal, and not just on the men’s side of the game. The Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball team has officially hired Sean Bair, who was previously with Penn State and will serve as an assistant coach and general manager at Michigan for head coach Kim Barnes Arico. The role of assistant coach and general manager was previously held by Natalie Achonwa this past season, but she left Ann Arbor at the end of the 2025-2026 season to take an assistant position with the Seattle Storm. With the opening on the coaching staff, Barnes Arico went with a familiar face to round out her staff. “I have gotten to know Sean over the last several years and his ability to connect with people has always stood out,” Barnes Arico said in a statement. “He is a relentless recruiter who really cares about the student-athletes and their development. He can add a tremendous amount to our program in terms of his recruiting ability and player development. “I think the other important piece in this changing landscape is also being a connector in the world of NIL and working with our variety of partners. He can help us continue to build our brand of Michigan women’s basketball in this current world of college athletics by engaging with our alumni, our donors and with our fans. Bair spent the last two seasons at Penn State as an assistant coach with the women’s program. Bair helped offensive and defensive systems, including player development, practice planning, game preparation and in-game adjustments. He specifically worked with the Nittany Lions’ forwards and post players, including All-Big Ten honoree Gracie Merkle, who led the nation in field goal percentage in 2025-26. Prior to University Park, Blair was an assistant at Monmouth for three seasons and also has experience as a head coach with a boys’ high school team and as a graduate assistant with men’s basketball. Michigan is coming off its best season in , posting a 28-7 record and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight before losing to . Despite coming up short, the Wolverines were able to return four starters for next season, including rising juniors and , and added transfer Courtney Ogden. With much of the core back in Ann Arbor, this upcoming season could be the best shot for Barnes Arico to secure Michigan’s first women’s basketball championship in program history. Adding an experienced coach, who has the eye for talent and development, will be a strong addition to Michigan’s staff. Bair will be expected to develop talent, find players in the high school and transfer portal ranks and campaign for more NIL funding – something the Wolverines were very vocal about needing more of at the end of this past season. “I am thrilled to join the University of ,” Bair said in a . “It is an honor, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Coach Arico and her outstanding staff. Michigan is a special place with championship standards, rich tradition and a clear vision for continued success that I am excited to help advance. My family and I cannot wait to experience all that Michigan has to offer and become part of the Ann Arbor community. Go Blue.”