Arizona women’s basketball GM Michelle Marciniak announces departure from program

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TUCSON, AZ - JANUARY 10: Arizona Wildcats head coach Becky Burke during a women's basketball game between the UCF Knights and the Arizona Wildcats on January 10, 2026, at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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Arizona women’s basketball posted a job listing for three assistant coaches on Mar. 5. One of those coaches will take the place of former UA general manager Michelle Marciniak.

Marciniak announced her departure from the program on Facebook Friday afternoon. She wrote:

After much reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to step down from my role as General Manager of the The University of Arizona Women’s Basketball program and return home to Knoxville, Tennessee – to be with my Mom as she continues to battle the relentless progressing disease of Alzheimer’s.

My Mom has always been there for me and it’s time to go home.

I’m incredibly grateful for my time at the University of Arizona. I want to sincerely thank Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois and her entire leadership team for their trust, support, and exemplary leadership. It was an honor to work alongside such dedicated colleagues who care deeply about student-athletes and the future of Arizona Athletics.

I’m also thankful to Coach Becky Burke for trusting me with a role that is still evolving in collegiate athletics. Building together with her, the staff, and our players has been a truly special experience and I’m proud to be a part of laying the foundation for the new era of Arizona WBB.

Thank you Arizona Women’s Basketball fans. Your passion for WBB is truly special and some of the best support I’ve experienced in my career!

As a former Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball player, I can’t help but bleed orange – but a piece of my heart will forever remain in Tucson.

An Arizona spokesperson addressed both Marciniak’s decision to step away to take care of her family and the other two staff changes for head coach Becky Burke.

Michelle shared with us that she’ll be stepping away to prioritize her family and care for her mother, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease. Coach Burke and everyone in the department fully support her decision.

As she moves into her second year, Coach Burke will continue evaluating all areas of the program as a whole. She built a strong foundation in her first season, and this process is really about building on that progress and positioning the program for continued success.

The three job postings you may have seen are about giving her flexibility as she works through that process.

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