Basketball Operations
Coaching Staff
Sam Presti | Executive Vice President and General Manager
Sam Presti begins his fifth season with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being named the 11th General Manager in club history on June 7, 2007. A year into his tenure with the Thunder, Presti was promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager by Professional Basketball Club Chairman, Clayton Bennett.
During his four-plus years with the Thunder, Presti has worked diligently to assemble the building blocks for long-term success both on and off the court.
In 2010-11, Presti and his staff oversaw the Thunder’s completion of a 55-win season (.670) before becoming the youngest team in the last quarter century to reach the NBA’s Western Conference Finals.
After his third season at the helm of the Thunder, Oklahoma City experienced one of the largest turnarounds in NBA history. A year after winning 23 games, the Thunder concluded the 2009-10 season with a record of 50-32 (.610). The 27-win improvement was tied for the eighth largest improvement in NBA history. After capturing the franchise’s first playoff berth in Oklahoma City, Presti was named NBA Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
Commencing with the 2007 draft, Presti selected Kevin Durant, the University of Texas standout with the team’s No. 2 overall pick. Since then, Durant has blossomed into one of the premiere players in the NBA. This past season, Durant became just the 11th player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons.
Through the NBA draft, Presti has continued to add the pieces needed to achieve the organization’s singular focus of working toward sustained success on the floor and in the community. Presti selected UCLA guard Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka with the 4th and 24th selections in the 2008 draft and a year later he nabbed Arizona State standout James Harden No. 3 overall in the 2009 draft.
Since moving to Oklahoma City in July of 2008, Presti has stressed the importance of community involvement for both Thunder players and staff. Under his leadership, the Thunder players have made more than 600 community appearances in and around Oklahoma City.
Prior to joining the Thunder, the 35-year-old Presti held a variety of roles with the San Antonio Spurs. After starting in 2000 as a video intern for Gregg Popovich, Presti most recently served as the team’s vice-president and assistant general manger from 2005 through 2007. As a member of the Spurs, Presti was part of NBA Championship teams in 2003, 2005, and 2007 as well as five division titles.
Presti earned his bachelor’s degree in 2000 in communications, politics and law from Emerson College in Boston, where he was the first Rhodes Scholar nominee in school history. The Concord, Mass. native served as team captain of the Emerson College basketball team during both his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Presti earned All-Academic honors two times and was also twice selected to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Tournament team. He was honored with the Emerson College Young Alumnus Award in 2005.
Presti currently resides on the board of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and with the support of the Thunder has established the Forward Thinking Leadership Development Program within the Oklahoma City public schools. Additionally, Presti is actively involved with PeacePlayers International (PPI), a global outreach program focused on bringing children and communities together through the game of basketball. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Shooting Touch, an organization that grants graduating college seniors the opportunity to travel the world and use the platform of basketball to help foster education and influence positive social change in third world global communities.
An accomplished drummer, Presti has produced three music CDs with all proceeds benefiting the Extra Ordinary Needs Fund at Children’s Hospital in Boston. In addition, Presti established the Keenan Smith-Anthony Halls Scholarship Fund at his former high school, Concord- Carlisle, to assist students with their college tuition.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Troy Weaver | Vice President / Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver begins his fourth season with Oklahoma City and his second as the team’s VP/Assistant General Manager. Weaver joined the Thunder in May of 2008
and assists General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he coordinates the team’s player personnel matters
including NBA Draft preparation, player free agency and summer league roster.
Weaver held the position of director of player personnel for the Utah Jazz in 2007-08. He spent three seasons (2004-07) as head scout for the Jazz before his promotion to director of player personnel.
Prior to joining the Jazz, Weaver was an assistant coach at Syracuse University for four seasons (2000-04). The Orangemen won the 2003 NCAA National Championship led by Weaver recruit Carmelo Anthony. In addition to his experience at Syracuse, Weaver spent time as an assistant coach at New Mexico (1999-2000) and Pittsburgh (1996-99).
Prior to his collegiate coaching days, Weaver amassed an 85-17 record as an AAU coach in Washington, D.C. He guided the DC Assault to the 1996 AAU Tournament of Champions.
Weaver graduated with an associate’s degree from Prince George’s Community College (MD) in 1991, where he also played one season of basketball.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rob Hennigan | Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel
Rob Hennigan enters his fourth year with the Oklahoma City Thunder and his second as the team’s Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel. Hennigan spent
his first two seasons with the Thunder serving as the team’s Director of College/International Player Personnel.
In his current capacity, Hennigan’s responsibilities include overseeing the team’s professional, college, and international scouting departments, as well as assisting GM Sam Presti with all player personnel matters and day-to-day management of basketball operations.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Hennigan spent five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and was named the Director of Basketball Operations in September of 2007. He joined the Spurs as an intern during the 2004–05 season and was later named the team’s Basketball Operations Assistant in the summer of 2005.
Hennigan graduated from Emerson College in 2004 with a degree in broadcast journalism. The Worcester, Mass. native, was named a Division III All-American and an Academic All-American as a senior and was the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year three consecutive seasons. He finished his career as the all-time scoring leader in Emerson history.
Rob and his wife, Marissa, reside in Oklahoma City.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Michael Winger | Assistant General Manager/Legal & Administration
Michael Winger begins his second season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, having joined the team in July 2010. In Winger’s current capacity, he is chiefly responsible for salary cap management, Collective Bargaining Agreement matters, contract and trade negotiation and preparation, basketball operations administration and process development.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Winger spent five seasons in the front office with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a variety of positions, most recently as its Director of Basketball Operations & Team Counsel. Winger’s role in Cleveland was expansive, and included instituting organizational processes and working closely with Cavaliers’ management and ownership on all team matters. He joined the Cavaliers in July of 2005 as its Basketball Operations Coordinator after spending two years working for renowned sports agent and attorney, Ron Shapiro in Baltimore, Md.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Winger is a graduate of Miami University (OH), and earned his J.D. from The University of Toledo College of Law. He also attended the University of Maryland School of Law during his time in Baltimore.
Winger is a member of the Maryland State Bar and has focused primarily within the area of sports law.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEDICAL AND PERFORMANCE
Director of Medical Services: Dr. Donnie Strack
Head Athletic Trainer: Joe Sharpe
Director of Athletic Performance: Dwight Daub
Applied Sport Scientist: Mark Simpson
Lead Registered Dietician / Chef: Steve Smith
SCOUTING
Pro Scout: David Vanterpool
Scouting Coordinator: Will Dawkins
Director, East Coast Scouting: Frank Ross
Coordinator of International Scouting: Massimo Biasin
College Scout: Jim Thomas
College Scout: Brandon Miller
BASKETBALL TECHNOLOGY
Director of Minor League Operations & Basketball Technology: Paul Rivers
Basketball Information Coordinator: Jesse Weinstein-Gould
Application Developer: Troy Carter
VIDEO COACHING
Manager of Advance Scouting: Vin Bhavnani
Opposition Scout: Scott Simpson
Video Analyst: Dave Bliss, Josh Longstaff
Video Analyst / Personnel: Noah La Roche
TEAM OPERATIONS
Director of Team Operations: Marc St. Yves
Manager of Team Operations: Wilson Taylor
Director of Team Security: Michael Chatman
Director of Player Appearances and Services: Ayana Lawson
BASKETBALL COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Basketball Communications: Matt Tumbleson
Manager of Basketball Communications: Michael Ravina
Manager of Basketball Communications: John Read
ADMINISTRATION
Special Assistant to the General Manager: John Andrews
Team Travel Coordinator: Judy Riddle
Assistant to Basketball Operations: Julie Hanneman
FACILITIES
Facility Operations Manager: Johnny Shults
Facility Operations Assistant: Shannon Begnel
MINOR LEAGUE OPERATIONS
Director of Minor League Scouting & Manager of Minor League Operations: Brandon Barnett
Head Coach: Dale Osbourne
Assistant Coach / Video Coordinator: Jermaine Byrd
Minor League Athletic Trainer: Tony Katzenmeier
Minor League Athletic Performance Coordinator: Jordan Webb
Public Relations Manager: Mitch Heckart
Sam Presti begins his fifth season with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being named the 11th General Manager in club history on June 7, 2007. A year into his tenure with the Thunder, Presti was promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager by Professional Basketball Club Chairman, Clayton Bennett.
During his four-plus years with the Thunder, Presti has worked diligently to assemble the building blocks for long-term success both on and off the court.
In 2010-11, Presti and his staff oversaw the Thunder’s completion of a 55-win season (.670) before becoming the youngest team in the last quarter century to reach the NBA’s Western Conference Finals.
After his third season at the helm of the Thunder, Oklahoma City experienced one of the largest turnarounds in NBA history. A year after winning 23 games, the Thunder concluded the 2009-10 season with a record of 50-32 (.610). The 27-win improvement was tied for the eighth largest improvement in NBA history. After capturing the franchise’s first playoff berth in Oklahoma City, Presti was named NBA Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
Commencing with the 2007 draft, Presti selected Kevin Durant, the University of Texas standout with the team’s No. 2 overall pick. Since then, Durant has blossomed into one of the premiere players in the NBA. This past season, Durant became just the 11th player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons.
Through the NBA draft, Presti has continued to add the pieces needed to achieve the organization’s singular focus of working toward sustained success on the floor and in the community. Presti selected UCLA guard Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka with the 4th and 24th selections in the 2008 draft and a year later he nabbed Arizona State standout James Harden No. 3 overall in the 2009 draft.
Since moving to Oklahoma City in July of 2008, Presti has stressed the importance of community involvement for both Thunder players and staff. Under his leadership, the Thunder players have made more than 600 community appearances in and around Oklahoma City.
Prior to joining the Thunder, the 35-year-old Presti held a variety of roles with the San Antonio Spurs. After starting in 2000 as a video intern for Gregg Popovich, Presti most recently served as the team’s vice-president and assistant general manger from 2005 through 2007. As a member of the Spurs, Presti was part of NBA Championship teams in 2003, 2005, and 2007 as well as five division titles.
Presti earned his bachelor’s degree in 2000 in communications, politics and law from Emerson College in Boston, where he was the first Rhodes Scholar nominee in school history. The Concord, Mass. native served as team captain of the Emerson College basketball team during both his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Presti earned All-Academic honors two times and was also twice selected to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Tournament team. He was honored with the Emerson College Young Alumnus Award in 2005.
Presti currently resides on the board of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and with the support of the Thunder has established the Forward Thinking Leadership Development Program within the Oklahoma City public schools. Additionally, Presti is actively involved with PeacePlayers International (PPI), a global outreach program focused on bringing children and communities together through the game of basketball. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Shooting Touch, an organization that grants graduating college seniors the opportunity to travel the world and use the platform of basketball to help foster education and influence positive social change in third world global communities.
An accomplished drummer, Presti has produced three music CDs with all proceeds benefiting the Extra Ordinary Needs Fund at Children’s Hospital in Boston. In addition, Presti established the Keenan Smith-Anthony Halls Scholarship Fund at his former high school, Concord- Carlisle, to assist students with their college tuition.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Troy Weaver | Vice President / Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver begins his fourth season with Oklahoma City and his second as the team’s VP/Assistant General Manager. Weaver joined the Thunder in May of 2008
and assists General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he coordinates the team’s player personnel matters
including NBA Draft preparation, player free agency and summer league roster.
Weaver held the position of director of player personnel for the Utah Jazz in 2007-08. He spent three seasons (2004-07) as head scout for the Jazz before his promotion to director of player personnel.
Prior to joining the Jazz, Weaver was an assistant coach at Syracuse University for four seasons (2000-04). The Orangemen won the 2003 NCAA National Championship led by Weaver recruit Carmelo Anthony. In addition to his experience at Syracuse, Weaver spent time as an assistant coach at New Mexico (1999-2000) and Pittsburgh (1996-99).
Prior to his collegiate coaching days, Weaver amassed an 85-17 record as an AAU coach in Washington, D.C. He guided the DC Assault to the 1996 AAU Tournament of Champions.
Weaver graduated with an associate’s degree from Prince George’s Community College (MD) in 1991, where he also played one season of basketball.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rob Hennigan | Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel
Rob Hennigan enters his fourth year with the Oklahoma City Thunder and his second as the team’s Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel. Hennigan spent
his first two seasons with the Thunder serving as the team’s Director of College/International Player Personnel.
In his current capacity, Hennigan’s responsibilities include overseeing the team’s professional, college, and international scouting departments, as well as assisting GM Sam Presti with all player personnel matters and day-to-day management of basketball operations.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Hennigan spent five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and was named the Director of Basketball Operations in September of 2007. He joined the Spurs as an intern during the 2004–05 season and was later named the team’s Basketball Operations Assistant in the summer of 2005.
Hennigan graduated from Emerson College in 2004 with a degree in broadcast journalism. The Worcester, Mass. native, was named a Division III All-American and an Academic All-American as a senior and was the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year three consecutive seasons. He finished his career as the all-time scoring leader in Emerson history.
Rob and his wife, Marissa, reside in Oklahoma City.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Michael Winger | Assistant General Manager/Legal & Administration
Michael Winger begins his second season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, having joined the team in July 2010. In Winger’s current capacity, he is chiefly responsible for salary cap management, Collective Bargaining Agreement matters, contract and trade negotiation and preparation, basketball operations administration and process development.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Winger spent five seasons in the front office with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a variety of positions, most recently as its Director of Basketball Operations & Team Counsel. Winger’s role in Cleveland was expansive, and included instituting organizational processes and working closely with Cavaliers’ management and ownership on all team matters. He joined the Cavaliers in July of 2005 as its Basketball Operations Coordinator after spending two years working for renowned sports agent and attorney, Ron Shapiro in Baltimore, Md.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Winger is a graduate of Miami University (OH), and earned his J.D. from The University of Toledo College of Law. He also attended the University of Maryland School of Law during his time in Baltimore.
Winger is a member of the Maryland State Bar and has focused primarily within the area of sports law.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEDICAL AND PERFORMANCE
Director of Medical Services: Dr. Donnie Strack
Head Athletic Trainer: Joe Sharpe
Director of Athletic Performance: Dwight Daub
Applied Sport Scientist: Mark Simpson
Lead Registered Dietician / Chef: Steve Smith
SCOUTING
Pro Scout: David Vanterpool
Scouting Coordinator: Will Dawkins
Director, East Coast Scouting: Frank Ross
Coordinator of International Scouting: Massimo Biasin
College Scout: Jim Thomas
College Scout: Brandon Miller
BASKETBALL TECHNOLOGY
Director of Minor League Operations & Basketball Technology: Paul Rivers
Basketball Information Coordinator: Jesse Weinstein-Gould
Application Developer: Troy Carter
VIDEO COACHING
Manager of Advance Scouting: Vin Bhavnani
Opposition Scout: Scott Simpson
Video Analyst: Dave Bliss, Josh Longstaff
Video Analyst / Personnel: Noah La Roche
TEAM OPERATIONS
Director of Team Operations: Marc St. Yves
Manager of Team Operations: Wilson Taylor
Director of Team Security: Michael Chatman
Director of Player Appearances and Services: Ayana Lawson
BASKETBALL COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Basketball Communications: Matt Tumbleson
Manager of Basketball Communications: Michael Ravina
Manager of Basketball Communications: John Read
ADMINISTRATION
Special Assistant to the General Manager: John Andrews
Team Travel Coordinator: Judy Riddle
Assistant to Basketball Operations: Julie Hanneman
FACILITIES
Facility Operations Manager: Johnny Shults
Facility Operations Assistant: Shannon Begnel
MINOR LEAGUE OPERATIONS
Director of Minor League Scouting & Manager of Minor League Operations: Brandon Barnett
Head Coach: Dale Osbourne
Assistant Coach / Video Coordinator: Jermaine Byrd
Minor League Athletic Trainer: Tony Katzenmeier
Minor League Athletic Performance Coordinator: Jordan Webb
Public Relations Manager: Mitch Heckart
