Timberwolves Basketball Operations Staff
Glen TaylorOwner
On March 23, 1995, Glen Taylor closed the deal that made him majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added the title of NBA owner to a list that already included international businessman, state senator, entrepreneur, philanthropist and executive of the year.
Glen Taylor is chairman of the multinational Taylor Corporation, based in Mankato, Minn. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. During this period, he worked part time at Carlson Wedding Service, a print shop specializing in formal invitations. After graduation he continued to work at the company, developing strategies to cut delivery time, improve service and expand offerings. Taylor purchased the company in 1975, assembled a passionate leadership team and dramatically expanded the firm’s capabilities, growing it into one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. Today Taylor Corporation, based in North Mankato, includes more than 80 subsidiaries providing business and personal communications products, technologies and marketing services. Other enterprises owned by Glen are in securities, agricultural, and medical fields.
He continued his education at the Harvard Graduate School of Business. In 1997, Mankato State University awarded Taylor their first honorary doctorate. Taylor received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws for his distinguished professional career and volunteer service. In October 2001, Taylor was inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Hall of Distinction.
Taylor’s business savvy has been recognized by Corporate Report magazine, which honored him as its Executive of the Year (1987), and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Minneapolis/St. Paul, who awarded him with their Sales Executive of the Year Award (1999). He was also inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame (2002) by Twin Cities Monthly Magazine.
Taylor was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1980, where he served until 1990. He became assistant Senate minority leader in 1982. From 1984 to 1986, he served as Senate minority leader.While in the Senate, Taylor was instrumental in providing leadership in the areas of higher education, child care and economic development policies.
He has served on the NBA Planning Committee and has been Chairman of the Audit Committee. In October of 2008, Taylor was named chairman of the NBA's Board of Governors. Through personal involvement, Taylor has remained active in many community, civic and charitable causes. He has also served on his church’s board of deacons and board of trustees and on the Mankato State University Foundation board of directors.
Taylor and his family have provided financial assistance and participated in missions to Africa, Turkey, Egypt and Central America to support the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Common Hope.
Nationally,Taylor has provided expert testimony on business and child care issues to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and served as a committee chair on the 1991 Commission on Reform and Efficiency (CORE). Taylor and his wife, Becky, live in Mankato. Their children and grandchildren enjoy attending many of the Timberwolves games.
Rob MoorChief Executive Officer
Rob Moor became chief executive officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004 following 10 years as the team's president.While reorganizing the Timberwolves and building a first-class staff, Moor was also involved in securing a WNBA franchise for Minnesota in 1998 and, in 2004, leading the effort to form Midwest Entertainment Group and manage Target Center until the spring of 2007.
Moor's strategic goals for the Timberwolves and Lynx revolve around customer service and a fan-centered attitude. 'If we provide great customer service and great entertainment, we will always be successful,' Moor says.
In a career that began at MGM Studios in Culver City, Calif., Moor was involved in the merger with United Artists and the subsequent sale of the studio to Ted Turner. Moor worked for Turner Entertainment for two years before moving to 20th Century Fox in film distribution.While at Fox,Moor had the opportunity to join the Los Angeles Kings where he transitioned his entertainment career to sports. Moor was the executive vice president of the Los Angeles Kings when he moved to Minnesota to lead the Timberwolves.
In addition to being on the executive committee of Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association,Moor is also involved with several non-profit organizations. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Moor lived in Europe until he moved to the United States in 1966. Moor currently resides in Plymouth, Minn.
Chris WrightPresident
This season marks Wright's 20th year with the Timberwolves organization and sixth as the team's president.Wright is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the team.
He leads a senior management group that is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business operations of the franchise. By developing a culture where everyone understands their role and supports each other, Wright and his senior management team are integrating the business and basketball operations to meet the strategic and financial goals of the team.
As president, Wright also articulates the mission of the organization, which is to surround fans with the worldclass athleticism and complete entertainment of the NBA and WNBA. Whether coming to the arena, watching a game on television, purchasing a ticket online, or meeting players and staff in the community, Timberwolves fans know that they are the sole focus of the organization's efforts. To fulfill this mission, Wright has established company- wide priority around an unwavering work ethic, valuing excellence and being active members of the community. Wright believes that by developing a culture that emphasizes "one team," "one voice," and "one with our community," the Timberwolves will have the ability to achieve great things. He believes in hiring a staff that is genuinely optimistic and passionate about the franchise—a staff that is professional, yet strives for fun with Timberwolves fans and clients.
A native of England,Wright came to the United States in 1978. Prior to joining the Timberwolves, he spent three years working for the state of Minnesota, first as a consultant working on bids for major national and international events, including the programming of the $17.4 million National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Prior to that,Wright also served as general manager for two Major Indoor Soccer League Teams, the Pittsburgh Spirit (1981-86) and the Minnesota Strikers (1986-87).
Wright, who graduated from Carnegie College of Physical Education in Headingly, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, is very involved in and consults with many local charities and youth sports programs. He was elected to and serves on the board of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. He resides in Eden Prairie, Minn., with his wife Walla and daughter Christy. Wright also has two sons Ned and Jeff, and daughter-in-law Amy.
David KahnPresident of Basketball Operations
David Kahn was introduced as the Timberwolves' President of Basketball Operations on May 22, 2009, bringing nearly 15 years of front office experience in both the NBA and the NBA Development League, and 24 years of experience in positions directly related to professional basketball, to the Timberwolves front office. In his role with the Timberwolves, Kahn oversees all decisions made within the Timberwolves basketball operations department.
Kahn brings a wealth of diverse skills to the Timberwolves stemming from previous positions in both the on-court and business sides of professional basketball, including nine years on the basketball operations staff of the Indiana Pacers. In addition to holding the titles of Assistant to the President for one season and Assistant General Manager for two years, Kahn also served four seasons as the team's General Manager, where he worked with and learned from one of the most storied minds in the league in Donnie Walsh.
In his role as GM, Kahn assisted Walsh with player acquisitions, trades, the NBA Draft, contract negotiations and salary cap management. Additionally, Kahn represented the Pacers on the NBA's Competition Committee, and also oversaw the design, development and marketing of Conseco Fieldhouse, widely considered one of the premiere venues in the league. The Fieldhouse elevated the Pacers into the top third of the league in local revenue, despite being the NBA's fifth-smallest market. From the time Kahn joined the Pacers organization in 1995 until his departure in 2004, the team compiled a 430-276 (.609) record, made eight playoff appearances and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals four times, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2000.
In 2002, Kahn transitioned his work with the Pacers into an advisory role and began spearheading an effort to bring Major League Baseball to his hometown of Portland, Ore. Kahn helped create the Oregon Stadium Campaign, a private entity that led Portland's drive for an MLB franchise during the league's relocation of the Montreal Expos. He led the lobbying efforts that resulted in a $150 million construction bill for a new baseball stadium in Portland while serving as Mayor Vera Katz's Special Advisor on baseball until her retirement in 2004.
Prior to joining the Timberwolves, Kahn spent the previous four years working with the NBA Development League through Southwest Basketball, LLC. Kahn's company owned and operated five D-League teams. Kahn's involvement proved instrumental in the growth of the D-League from eight to 16 teams and the development of the D-League as an NBA farm system with affiliations to NBA teams.
After graduating from UCLA in 1983, Kahn began his career in sports as a writer and columnist covering the NBA for the Portland Oregonian from 1984-89 before joining the staff of NBC's "NBA Showtime" studio show from 1990-95. While serving as a basketball consultant for the show and working closely with the on-air talent including Bob Costas, Julius Erving and Pat Riley, Kahn earned his law degree at New York University in 1993 and later began working for Proskauer Rose LLP, the firm that provides outside counsel to the NBA and a variety of other sports entities.
Kahn and his wife, Kerry, have a daughter, Marika, and a son, Kellen.
Kurt RambisHead Coach
Kurt Rambis was named the ninth head coach in Minnesota Timberwolves history on Aug. 10, 2009.
“I feel that in Kurt Rambis we have found the best person to lead and develop our young team as head coach," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "Kurt is talented and hard-working, and his many years in the NBA as a player, administrator and coach have prepared him well for this opportunity."
Rambis, 51, will join the Wolves after serving as an assistant coach on Phil Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers staff for seven seasons (2001-04, 2005-09). As an assistant, Rambis helped guide the Los Angeles to four NBA Finals appearances (2002, 2004, 2008, 2009), with the Lakers winning the NBA Championship in 2002 and 2009. Rambis also served as an assistant coach on Del Harris' staff from 1994-98. Twelve games into the 1998-99 season, Rambis took over as the Lakers' interim head coach. He tied an NBA record with nine consecutive victories to start his head coaching career and compiled a 24-13 overall record, leading the team to the Western Conference Semifinals.
Rambis also served in the Lakers' front office in three different capacities. He served as advisor and assistant general manager from 1999-2001, and held the title of Vice President of Business and Basketball Integration during the 2004-05 season before rejoining Jackson's coaching staff midway through the campaign.
As a player, Rambis played 14 seasons in the NBA (1981-95), including nine seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (1981-88, 1993-95), as well as stops in Charlotte, Phoenix and Sacramento. A member of the Los Angeles Lakers during the team's "Showtime" era, Rambis helped the club win four NBA titles (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988).
For his career, Rambis averaged 5.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 880 games. His best season, statistically, was 1988-89 with the expansion Charlotte Hornets when he averaged career highs with 11.1 points and 9.4 rebounds.
The Cupertino, Calif., native attended Santa Clara University (1976-80), and earned his degree in psychology. Rambis still ranks first in points (1,735) and second in rebounds (1,037) for the Broncos. He earned West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) Freshman of the Years honors and was named the WCAC Player of the Year following his senior season.
Rambis and his wife Linda have three children: Jesse, Jordan and Ali.
Dave WohlAssistant Coach
Dave Wohl begins his first season as an assistant coach with the Timberwolves. He brings more than 30 years of NBA experience to the Timberwolves bench, having served in a variety of capacities through the years, including as a head coach, an assistant coach and as a member of the front office.
The last two seasons he was the assistant general manager of the Boston Celtics. Wohl has spent several years as an assistant coach in the NBA with various teams: Boston (2004-05 - 2006-07), Orlando (1999-00 - 2003-04), L.A. Clippers (1993-94), L.A. Lakers (1982-83 - 1984-85, 1998-99), Miami (1989-90 - 1990-91) and Sacramento (1992-93). As an assistant coach under Pat Riley, Wohl was a member of the Lakers' 1985 NBA Championship team. Wohl was the head coach of the New Jersey Nets for two-plus seasons (1985-88), leading the team to the NBA Playoffs in 1986. From 1995-97, Wohl was the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Miami Heat.
Selected in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Wohl spent seven seasons as a player in the NBA (1971-78). He appeared in 410 games with Philadelphia, Portland, Buffalo, Houston and New York-New Jersey Nets, scoring 2,553 points.
A two-time Ivy League selection at the University of Pennsylvania, Wohl led the Quakers to two Ivy League titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Wohl and his wife, Elena, have two daughters, Natalie and Katie.
Reggie TheusAssistant Coach
Reggie Theus joins the Timberwolves staff after serving as head coach of the Sacramento Kings (44-62, .415) for one-plus seasons. He guided the Kings to a 38-44 record in 2007-08, which was a five-win improvement over the previous year, despite being short-handed for most of the season due to injuries to key players.
Prior to his head coaching stint with Sacramento, Theus spent the previous two years as the head coach at New Mexico State University, leading the Aggies to a berth in the NCAA Tournament during the 2006-07 season. In his first year at the helm of the NMSU program, Theus turned around a program that went 6-24 the year before he arrived, leading the team to a 16-14 record. Theus' Aggies improved to 25-9 in 2006-07, winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. Before his NMSU assignment, Theus spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville.
Before turning his attention to the coaching profession, Theus' 13 years as a player in the NBA were spent with the Chicago Bulls, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets. After being drafted by the Bulls as the ninth overall pick in 1978,Theus finished runner-up in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting. For his career, he averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while being named to the 1981 and 1983 NBA All-Star teams. He is one of only seven players in NBA history to score at least 19,000 points and dish out 6,000 assists.
Theus and his wife, Elaine, have three children: Raquel, Reggie and Rhyan.
Bill LaimbeerAssistant Coach
Bill Laimbeer joins the Timberwolves after seven successful seasons as the head coach and general manager of the WNBA's Detroit Shock. During that time, Laimbeer coached the Shock to three WNBA Championships (2003, 2006, 2008), four Eastern Conference titles, and a historic worst-to-first turnaround (the Shock, 9-23 a year earlier, won a league-best 25 games the following season) for which he was named 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year.
Laimbeer amassed a regular-season record of 136-90 (.602) and a postseason mark of 27-16 (.628), which includes the most postseason wins (27) and WNBA Finals victories (10) in league history. Laimbeer, who became head coach on June 19, 2002, despite no previous coaching experience, resigned from the Shock on June 15, 2009 to pursue NBA coaching opportunities.
A four-time NBA All-Star center (1983-85, 1987), Laimbeer played 13-plus seasons in the NBA and finished with career averages of 12.9 points and 9.7 rebounds in 1,068 games. He led the NBA in rebounding during the 1985-86 season (13.1 rpg) and finished his career as the Pistons' all-time leading rebounder with 9,430. In 113 playoff games, Laimbeer averaged 12.0 points and 9.7 rebounds as Detroit posted a 71-42 (.628) mark with him at center. He was a key member of the Pistons' "Bad Boys" teams that won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.
Originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third round (65th overall) in the 1979 NBA Draft, the Notre Dame product was traded to Detroit in a multiplayer deal on Feb. 16, 1982.
Laimbeer and his wife, Chris, have two children, Eric and Kerriann.
John-Blair "J.B." BickerstaffAssistant Coach
John-Blair “J.B.” Bickerstaff is in his third season as an assistant coach with the Timberwolves. He came to Minnesota from Charlotte, where he was on the Bobcats coaching staff for two seasons. Bickerstaff followed in the footsteps of his father, Bobcats GM & head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who was the youngest assistant coach when he joined the NBA in 1973 at 29 years old.
Around basketball his whole life — his father Bernie was head coach for four NBA teams, including the Charlotte Bobcats — Bickerstaff provided color analysis on radio broadcasts in 2003-04 for the Timberwolves when the team won the Midwest Division and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Prior to that, he served as the director of operations for the University of Minnesota men’s basketball program where he oversaw all administrative areas of the program and assisted the coaching staff with recruiting, scouting and coaching.
Bickerstaff played collegiately at Oregon State University and the University of Minnesota. He played two seasons with the Golden Gophers from 1999-2001 and averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. As a senior, he had 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds and paced the team in field goal percentage.
Tony Ronzone Assistant General Manager / Player Personnel
Tony Ronzone began with the Pistons in 2001, serving as the team's Director of International Scouting until 2005 and as Director of Basketball Operations from 2005-10. In his most recent role with Detroit, Ronzone directed all of the Pistons' international scouting activities and assisted with college scouting and evaluating NBA personnel. Ronzone began his NBA career as a scout with the Dallas Mavericks from 1998 through 2000.
Ronzone began his front office basketball career as a player/coach in New Zealand. In 1990, Ronzone returned to the U.S. as an assistant coach at Arizona State. He also coached the Saudi Arabian National Team in 1992, and spent five years as a coach in United Arab Emirates. Ronzone's international coaching resume also includes stints as an assistant coach for the Chinese youth national team in 1998 and the Chinese National Team in 2001. He was the first American to ever coach with the Chinese National Team.
Ronzone played college basketball at the University of Nevada before finishing his collegiate career at Long Beach State. He played professionally overseas in New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines.
Ronzone is involved with USA Basketball, where he serves as Director of International Player Personnel. In this position, he assisted with the gold-medal winning men's basketball team at the 2008 Olympics. He is also active in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program.
Jerry SichtingDirector of Pro Personnel
Jerry Sichting is in his first season as Director of Pro Player Personnel and will be responsible for scouting and evaluating current NBA players. Sichting moves back to the front office after serving as an assistant coach the past two seasons, and 11 of his 12 seasons with the club. Sichting originally joined the Wolves on May 11, 1995 when he was named Director of Scouting and Player Development. In between his two stints with the Wolves, Sichting was an assistant coach with Marquette University for the 2006-07 season.
Sichting acquired an in-depth knowledge of the pro game from his 10 seasons as a player in the NBA with the Indiana, Boston, Portland, Charlotte and Milwaukee. He began his career in 1980 and spent the following five seasons with the Indiana Pacers, averaging a career-high 11.5 points per game during the 1983-84 season. In 1986, Sichting was a valuable reserve for the NBA Champion Boston Celtics, averaging 6.5 points per game. He appeared in 598 career regular-season games, recording an average of 6.9 points and 3.3 assists per game.
After his playing career ended, he remained in Boston and ran the Jerry Sichting Basketball Camp for five years. He also spent four seasons (1991-95) serving as the analyst on Celtics’ radio broadcasts.
In March of 2002, Sichting was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. A 1979 graduate of Purdue University, he was captain of the 1978-79 Boilermakers squad that captured the Big 10 championship.
Jerry and his wife, Joni, have four children, Jared, Jason, Jordan and Jenna.
Zarko DurisicDirector of College and European Player Personnel
Durisic begins his 14th season with the Timberwolves and his fifth as the team's director of player personnel after serving eight years as the team's director of international scouting. He continues to focus on international and college prospects, salary cap issues and the NBA draft.
A native of Montenegro (part of the former Yugoslavia), Durisic played for the national teams of Yugoslavia at all levels (cadets, juniors and seniors). He came to the United States in 1980 and attended Wichita State University, where he studied computer science. Durisic was a member of two NCAA tournament qualifiers. His 1982 team - ranked No. 2 in the country - lost to eventual national champion North Carolina State. Durisic's teammates at Wichita State included former NBA standouts Cliff Levingston, Antoine Carr and Xavier McDaniel. After graduation from Wichita State in 1984, Durisic played professionally for 11 seasons in Slovenia, where his teams won six Slovenian national titles and a European Cup in 1992.
Following his playing career, Durisic coached in Slovenia for Olympia Ljubljana and won a National Championship in 1996, qualifying for the Euro League for the first time in team history. His 1995-96 squad included future NBA players Rasho Nesterovic, Vladimir Stepania and Marco Milic. Durisic is well known around the basketball community due to his hoops past, in addition to his continued work in basketball clinics around the globe. Durisic, his wife, Tatjana, and their daughters, Jelena and Alexsandra, reside in Minneapolis.
Rob BabcockDirector of Scouting/Administration
Rob Babcock, who has 20 years of NBA management experience, returned to the Timberwolves in 2006 after spending two seasons as the general manager of the Toronto Raptors. .
Babcock spent 12 years with Minnesota during his first stint with the team, the final two seasons as vice president of player personnel. Babcock served as the team's director of player personnel from 1994-2002, and two seasons (1992-94) as a scout. Babcock joined the NBA in 1987 as the director of scouting for the Denver Nuggets, where he spent five seasons before joining the Wolves. .
A native of Phoenix, Babcock attended Grand Canyon College in Phoenix and helped his team to a second-place finish in the 1974 NAIA final national rankings. Babcock began his coaching career in Mexico City at The American School Foundation. He later returned to Phoenix where he coached at Greenway and Maryvale high schools. In 1982, he earned Southwest Valley Coach of the Year honors. .
Rob and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Nathan and Christopher.
Amy PetersonDirector of Team Operations
Amy Peterson is in her 10th season with the Timberwolves and her first season as Director of Team Operations. Peterson’s responsibilities include handling the day-to-day activities of the basketball department, including serving as a liaison between the business department and basketball operations, assisting with contract administration, carrying out NBA initiatives, and coordinating all individual business travel needs. A vital part of her duties include assisting players with personal, professional and social development and helping new players and their families with relocation and integration to the community.
Peterson began with the organization in 2000 as a Lynx Ticket Sales Executive. With the Wolves, she has held positions as Basketball Operations Assistant and Player Programs Coordinator.
Peterson attended Waldorf Junior College and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Sports Marketing degree. She also played basketball at both schools.
The Britt, Iowa, native resides in Minneapolis.
Brent HaskinsAdvance Scout
Brent Haskins is in his seventh season with the Timberwolves and his second as an NBA advance scout. Previously, he served three seasons as an advance scout for the team and an additional three campaigns as the club's video coordinator. Prior to joining the Timberwolves, Haskins spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota.
Haskins assists the coaching staff during draft preparation, summer league, training camp and the playoffs. He is also responsible for assembling the club's summer league team. His duties as an advance scout require him to travel throughout the country to watch the Wolves' upcoming opponents and prepare a detailed scouting report on the upcoming opposition. The scouting report, along with individual and team breakdown tapes prepared by the Wolves' video department, allows the coaching staff to formulate a game plan for an opponent.
Haskins graduated with a sports management degree from Minnesota in 1996. The native of Wayzata, Minn., resides in Plymouth, Minn.
Mike LindahlVideo Coordinator
Mike Lindahl enters his seventh season as the team's video coordinator.
Lindahl is responsible for the recording and editing of all videotapes of Wolves games, opponents games and numerous college contests. The videos are used for evaluating the team's performances, scouting upcoming opponents and assessing collegiate talent.
Lindahl is a 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in sports management. He and his wife, Heidi, and children, Charlie and Peyton, reside in Shakopee, Minn.
Gregg FarnamAthletic Trainer
Gregg Farnam enters his 13th season with the Timberwolves and his ninth as the team's head athletic trainer.
In addition to being responsible for every aspect of the Wolves' training room operations, Farnam works closely with the team's medical staff in monitoring each player's physical condition as well as assessing and treating injuries. He is also responsible for coordinating team travel.
This offseason, Farnam served as the trainer for USA Basketball's National Team Mini Camp in Las Vegas. Farnam also served as the head athletic trainer for the NBA's Basketball without Borders Asia contingent that visited New Delhi, India in 2008. The group, which included current NBA players Samuel Dalembert, Pat Garrity, Kyle Korver and Ronny Turiaf, worked with local players to promote the game and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
Farnam was also the athletic trainer for the United States Men's U19 team that brought home the silver medal at the 2007 FIBA World Championships in Nova Sad, Serbia, in July 2007, as well as the athletic trainer for the gold-medal-winning United States men's basketball team at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, in September 2001. He also provided medical coverage for the women's volleyball team at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July 2003.
Farnam graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine from St. Cloud State University and has a master's degree in exercise science and health promotions from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a certified member of the National Trainers Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Farnam and his wife, Tiffany, along with their sons, Nolan and Maximilian, and daughters, Mae and Ella, reside in Rogers, Minn.
Dave VitelStrength and Conditioning Coach
Dave Vitel enters his fourth season as the team's strength and conditioning coach. A specialist in the field for 10 years, he is responsible for developing and prescribing individualized training programs for each of the Timberwolves players.
Vitel joined the Wolves training staff after serving as the head strength and conditioning coach at Loyola University Chicago for the previous five years. In that capacity, he was responsible for improving student athletes' individual athletic performance with specific training regimens as well as overseeing all 15 of Loyola's varsity athletic teams in their use of the weight room. Throughout his career, Vitel has trained professional athletes in the NBA, including multiple first- and second-round NBA Draft picks, NFL and Major League Soccer.
The Elgin, Ill., native has also previously worked for the Chicago Bulls and University of Arizona. Vitel received his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his master's degree in education from Loyola. Vitel, his wife, Jessica, and son, Jacob, reside in St. Louis Park, Minn.
Andre DeloyaPhysical Therapist
Andre Deloya enters his 10th season as the team's physical therapist. He joined the team after serving for 10 years as a supervisor for the Institute for Athletic Medicine in Minneapolis.
Deloya has over 25 years of experience in the field of physical therapy. He graduated with a master's degree in physical therapy from Columbia University and has a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University. He has extensive experience in neuro-rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation and sports and dance medicine.
He has worked with professional athletes from Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League, as well as local and national dance companies and touring musicians and figure skaters. Deloya is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Deloya and his wife, Eileen, along with their daughters, Amanda and Hailey, reside in Edina, Minn.
Clayton Wilson
Equipment Manager
Clayton Wilson begins his 21st season associated with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and his 18th as the team's equipment manager. Wilson started with the organization working game nights for the Wolves during the team's inaugural 1989-90 season at the Metrodome, before becoming the equipment manager during the 1992-93 campaign.
In his role, Wilson's duties include managing all of the team's equipment and uniform-related matters, both at home and on the road; setting up team practices on the road; and overseeing the Wolves practice facility inside Target Center.
Wilson brings over 35 seasons of sports experience to the position, having started his career in professional sports with Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins as a bat boy. During this time, he was on the field as the Twins captured their two World Series Championships (1987 and 1991). Additionally, he served as the Twins clubhouse attendant for several seasons.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Wilson now lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Amanda, and their children, Jack and Anna.
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