Former Iowa basketball player and coach Matt Gatens joins Auburn as general manager

IOWA CITY — Former Iowa basketball player and assistant coach Matt Gatens has landed a job with Auburn basketball as the general manager, head coach Bruce Pearl announced via a release on June 20.

He returns to Pearl’s staff after having previously worked with the Tigers as a GA.

“The key to my success has been surrounding our program with good people,” Pearl said via a release. “I’ve known Matt since the day he was born as his parents were friends of mine when I was an assistant at Iowa. Matt’s first job after his professional playing career was as a graduate assistant here at Auburn. He went off to do great things as an assistant coach and put himself in a position to potentially be named Iowa’s head coach last year. It’s great to have Matt and his family back in Auburn.

“It was important for me to have someone who had strong experience and understanding the challenges of Name, Image and Likeness” Pearl said. “I also wanted someone who could help us not only be the best we can be in NIL, but also with managing player and roster development.”

Gatens has extensive ties to the state of Iowa and the University of Iowa.

A star at Iowa City High, Gatens was named 2008 Iowa Mr. Basketball before joining the Hawkeyes. He started his college career playing for Todd Lickliter and finished during Fran McCaffery’s first two seasons at the helm.

Gatens scored more than 1,600 points with the Hawkeyes.

After a professional basketball career, Gatens transitioned to coaching, which has taken him to Auburn, Drake and then back to Iowa. Gatens rejoined the Hawkeyes as an assistant coach on McCaffery’s staff in 2022.

More: Matt Gatens’ role in recruiting with Iowa basketball grows in second season

After being bounced from the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, Iowa moved on from McCaffery and hired Ben McCollum, prompting a near-total upheaval in the program. Like many other staff members and players from the McCaffery era, Gatens did not remain with the team.

That opened the door for Gatens to return to Auburn.

“My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to rejoin the Auburn Family,” Gatens said via a release. “Coach Pearl and his staff have built one of the most respected and successful programs in the country, and I’m honored to be a part of that winning and championship culture. “The passion, energy, and support of the community and fanbase is what makes this place so special. I’m committed to help build on the success of this program and contribute to the growth of our players, both on-and-off the court. I look forward to coaching in one of the best environments in the country. War Eagle!”

Pearl has built Auburn into a powerhouse in the college basketball landscape. The Tigers reached the Final Four last season. Gatens will now have a hand in trying to sustain the program’s recent success.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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