Update, May 27, 7:00 p.m.

Mike Rhoades has officially announced Scott Pera as the general manager of the Penn State men’s basketball team.

“I am thrilled to be the new GM of Penn State Basketball,” said Pera. “To have this opportunity at my alma mater with one of my best friends is such a unique and awesome opportunity.  I am looking forward to helping Coach Rhoades continue to grow this program as we navigate the constantly changing landscape of college basketball.  I hope to assist him and the staff in a variety of ways to help them take Penn State back to the NCAA Tournament.”

Original story:

Penn State men’s basketball is hiring former Rice head coach Scott Pera as the team’s general manager, according to Jeff Goodman.

Penn State coach Mike Rhoades is expected to hire former Rice head coach Scott Pera as his general manager, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Pera worked for Rhoades at Rice and is also a Penn State grad.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 8, 2025

Pera spent three years as an assistant coach for Mike Rhoades with the Owls before being promoted to head coach, a role he held for seven years.

As head coach, Pera went 96-127 and led Rice to two winning seasons. He was fired following the 2023-24 season.

A graduate of Penn State Harrisburg, Pera has also had coaching stops at Elizabethtown College, Arizona State, and Penn. He also had multiple high school coaching roles, including being James Harden’s coach at Artesia High School.

Pera and Penn State will look to build on two straight 16-win seasons under Rhoades.