Matina Kolokotronis, ‘89, is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Sacramento Kings and is the only woman in the National Basketball League to have held the titles of COO and President of Business Operations. As COO, Kolokotronis develops and implements the long-term strategy of the organization, designing business operations and establishing policies that promote the Sacramento Kings’ culture and vision. Kolokotronis’ leadership was essential to the development of the award-winning Golden 1 Center as well as its adjacent, $500 million development project, Downtown Commons in Sacramento, California. The Golden 1 Center is 100 percent solar-powered, and the arena was ranked No. 6 in the world in 2021. Their sustainability efforts continue into its food and beverage department, which sources 90 percent of its ingredients from local vendors, reducing its carbon footprint and supporting the local economy.
Her professional background includes sports and government law, community affairs, and contract negotiations. Prior to joining the Sacramento Kings, she worked as an associate with Miller, Owen, and Trost PC, and an associate with Carpenter, Snodgrass, and Associates.
Her involvement with the Sacramento Kings began in 1996 when she received an unexpected phone call from Geoff Petrie – the general manager of the Sacramento Kings at the time – who offered her a position after learning of her ability to read and write Greek. Kolokotronis served as a legal consultant, negotiating player and staff contracts, for the Sacramento Kings business and basketball operations teams. In 2004, she transitioned to director of the Sacramento Kings Foundation and oversaw strategic development and fundraising activities. Several years later in 2010, she served as the organization’s President of Business Operations, and in 2016, transitioned to her current role as Chief Operating Officer.
Kolokotronis earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Loyola University Chicago and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. After graduating, Kolokotronis gave back to her alma mater, McGeorge School of Law, by working as an adjunct professor, educating students on Sports Law for seven years.
In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Kolokotronis to the California Citizens Compensation Commission (CCCC). Kolokotronis was one of seven members serving a six-year term. As a member of the CCCC, she was tasked to set the salaries and fringe benefits for members of the California State Legislature and other state officials.
In 2019, the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation presented Kolokotronis with the 2019 Paradigm Award. This award is presented to a distinguished Greek American whose career and accomplishments are a testimony to the Foundation’s mission of promoting leadership and education.
In 2023, Kolokotronis was a keynote speaker at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Youth Adult League (YAL) Conference. She shares that her Greek Orthodox faith and Greek community provided her with a spiritual foundation to pursue her goals. In 2023, she also became a member of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.
Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.