NBA Star's College Leadership
NBA Champion Derrick White Assumes Colorado Basketball Strategy Role, Donates $2M to Alma Mater
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Key Points
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The donor event announcing White's role at Colorado featured a notable slate of CU basketball alumni, including Cory Higgins, Alec Burks, Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Roberson and KJ Simpson, signaling strong program-wide backing.
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White is currently halfway through a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, underscoring that his NBA career remains his primary focus even as he takes on the college role.
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White’s appointment fits a growing trend of active NBA players taking leadership roles at their alma maters, and it positions him as the second Celtics player to join a former college program’s leadership, following Jayson Tatum’s role at Duke.
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White’s professional résumé includes being drafted 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2017, being traded to the Celtics in 2022, winning the 2024 NBA championship, and earning Team USA gold at the Paris Games.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is returning to his college roots in a big way. The University of Colorado announced on June 23, 2026 that White will serve as the program's first-ever President of Basketball Strategy — a new, unpaid role in which he will mentor players and help shape the Buffaloes alongside head coach Tad Boyle NBC Sports.
White and his family are also donating $2 million to the CU men's basketball program BizWest. The 2024 NBA champion — midway through a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension with the Celtics — will draw zero salary from Colorado for the position AP News.
White Scores 18 PPG Then Scores $2M for Buffs
White played just one season at Colorado, but he made it count. He averaged 18.1 points per game in 2016-17 before the San Antonio Spurs drafted him 29th overall NBC Sports. Now, nearly a decade later, he is putting serious money behind his loyalty to the program.
The $2 million family donation comes as Colorado competes in the ultracompetitive Big 12. Athletic Director Fernando Lovo called the gesture something he will "never take for granted" Denver Gazette. Analysts note the donation still represents roughly one-tenth of what some elite programs spend annually on rosters alone Denver Gazette.
What White Will Actually Do in Boulder
White will not run daily operations. He describes himself as a "resource" for players rather than a hands-on manager CUBuffs.com. He will advise coach Tad Boyle on culture and roster strategy, and offer players a direct connection to the professional game.
Boyle praised White's "championship pedigree" and "humility" as ideal fits for the modern era of college basketball BizWest. White put it simply: "I've been in two special organizations, so I know about basketball and what wins" CUBuffs.com. The role also gives Colorado a live recruiting pitch — an active NBA All-Defensive First Team player in the building.
A Star-Studded Alumni Reunion Backs the Move
Wednesday's formal press conference at the CU Events Center was more than an announcement. Former Buffaloes Cory Higgins, Alec Burks, Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Roberson, and KJ Simpson all attended, sending a clear signal of program-wide unity Head Top Topics.
The gathering reflects a calculated effort to build what Colorado is calling a "Buffaloes for Life" culture. Having active and former pros visibly rally around the program gives recruiting a boost that no traditional coaching hire can replicate. Sports analysts say White's presence gives Colorado an advantage that is "insurmountable" in head-to-head recruiting battles SI.com.
Tatum at Duke Opened the Door White Just Walked Through
White is not the first active NBA star to take a formal college role. Stephen Curry joined Davidson College as Assistant GM in March 2025. Jayson Tatum became Duke's Chief Basketball Officer in October 2025 while recovering from an Achilles injury Troy Record. White is now the second Celtics player to join a former college program's leadership.
The trend is reshaping how college programs compete in the NIL era. NIL refers to deals that let college athletes earn money from their name, image, and likeness. With transfer portal movement accelerating, programs are using trusted alumni to stabilize culture and signal long-term vision. If White's role succeeds, the NCAA may need new rules governing what active pros can do inside college athletic departments AP News.
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