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Coaching Staff
Sam Presti | General Manager
The 2008-09 season marks the second year for Sam Presti as the General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Professional Basketball Club (PBC) Chairman Clayton Bennett appointed Presti to the position on June 7, 2007.
In his first two drafts with Oklahoma City, Presti has acquired the building blocks of the future. Presti selected Kevin Durant as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, and acquired Jeff Green (No. 5 overall) on draft night through a trade with Boston. In the 2008 Draft, Presti drafted Russell Westbrook at the No. 4 overall pick, Serge Ibaka at No. 24 and acquired D.J. White through a trade with Detroit (No. 29 overall). In addition, Presti has worked to create salary cap flexibility through multiple player trades and has acquired seven draft picks since his arrival, which includes five first-round picks from 2007-2010.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Presti held a variety of roles with the San Antonio Spurs from 2000 to 2007. Most recently, he served as the team's assistant general manager from Sept. of 2005 - June of 2007. Presti led the design and implementation of the Spurs scouting database, a system that is now being used by numerous teams throughout the NBA. From 2003 - 2005, he served as the director of player personnel. Prior to that role, Presti was the assistant director of scouting in 2002 and 2003. He joined the Spurs organization as an intern in the summer of 2000 before being promoted to special assistant in the summer of 2001.
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 was a four-year basketball letterman and served as team captain 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.
An accomplished drummer, Presti has produced three music CDs with all proceeds benefiting the Extra Ordinary Needs Fund at Children's Hospital in Boston.
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Rich Cho | Assistant General Manager
Rich Cho enters his 11th season with the organization and his eighth as assistant general manager. Cho is responsible for contract negotiations, salary cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement matters, player contracts and all player personnel issues.
Cho has also served as the team's director of basketball affairs (1997-2000) and vice president of legal (2005-07).
As an attorney with experience on both the team and agent sides of professional sports, Cho calls upon his diverse skill set to aide the Thunder management staff. He also helped design and implement one of the NBA's most advanced and comprehensive college and professional player-evaluation systems.
A member of the Washington State Bar, Cho is a graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law with an emphasis in sports law, contract negotiations and dispute resolution.
Prior to attending law school, Cho earned his engineering degree from Washington State University and worked as an engineer at Boeing in Seattle for five years. He began his work with the team as an intern in May of 1995. He continued in that role until his graduation from law school in May of 1997 when he was hired as a part-time consultant.
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Troy Weaver | Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver begins his first season as the club's assistant general manager after joining the Thunder in May of 2008. Weaver will assist General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he will coordinate 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 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.
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Director, Pro Player Personnel: Bill Branch
Director, College and International Player Personnel: Rob Hennigan
Director, East Coast Scouting: Frank Ross
International Scout: Massimo Biasin
Advanced Scout: Bob Thornton
Scout:Jim Thomas
Director, Basketball Administration & Technology: Paul Rivers
Director, Medical Services: Dr. Donnie Strack
Head Athletic Trainer: Joe Sharpe
Director, Athletic Performance/Assistant Coach: Dwight Daub
Director, Team Operations: Marc St. Yves
Video Coordinator: Vin Bhavnani
Director, Team Security: Michael Chatman
Director, Basketball Communications: Brian Facchini
Manager, Basketball Communications: Michael Ravina
Coordinator, Basketball Communications: John Read
Manager, Player Appearances and Services: Ayana Clinton
Assistant to the General Manager: Leslie Purcell
Assistant to Basketball Operations: Julie Hanneman
Team Travel Coordinator: Judy Riddle
Basketball Operations Assistant : Will Dawkins
Basketball Operations Assistant : Brandon Miller
Basketball Operations Assistant : Wilson Taylor
Facility Operations: Shannon Begnel
Head Team Primary Care Physician: Daniel Clinkenbeard
Head Team Orthopedic Physician: Carlan Yates
The 2008-09 season marks the second year for Sam Presti as the General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Professional Basketball Club (PBC) Chairman Clayton Bennett appointed Presti to the position on June 7, 2007.
In his first two drafts with Oklahoma City, Presti has acquired the building blocks of the future. Presti selected Kevin Durant as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, and acquired Jeff Green (No. 5 overall) on draft night through a trade with Boston. In the 2008 Draft, Presti drafted Russell Westbrook at the No. 4 overall pick, Serge Ibaka at No. 24 and acquired D.J. White through a trade with Detroit (No. 29 overall). In addition, Presti has worked to create salary cap flexibility through multiple player trades and has acquired seven draft picks since his arrival, which includes five first-round picks from 2007-2010.
Prior to joining the Thunder, Presti held a variety of roles with the San Antonio Spurs from 2000 to 2007. Most recently, he served as the team's assistant general manager from Sept. of 2005 - June of 2007. Presti led the design and implementation of the Spurs scouting database, a system that is now being used by numerous teams throughout the NBA. From 2003 - 2005, he served as the director of player personnel. Prior to that role, Presti was the assistant director of scouting in 2002 and 2003. He joined the Spurs organization as an intern in the summer of 2000 before being promoted to special assistant in the summer of 2001.
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 was a four-year basketball letterman and served as team captain 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.
An accomplished drummer, Presti has produced three music CDs with all proceeds benefiting the Extra Ordinary Needs Fund at Children's Hospital in Boston.
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Rich Cho | Assistant General Manager
Rich Cho enters his 11th season with the organization and his eighth as assistant general manager. Cho is responsible for contract negotiations, salary cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement matters, player contracts and all player personnel issues.
Cho has also served as the team's director of basketball affairs (1997-2000) and vice president of legal (2005-07).
As an attorney with experience on both the team and agent sides of professional sports, Cho calls upon his diverse skill set to aide the Thunder management staff. He also helped design and implement one of the NBA's most advanced and comprehensive college and professional player-evaluation systems.
A member of the Washington State Bar, Cho is a graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law with an emphasis in sports law, contract negotiations and dispute resolution.
Prior to attending law school, Cho earned his engineering degree from Washington State University and worked as an engineer at Boeing in Seattle for five years. He began his work with the team as an intern in May of 1995. He continued in that role until his graduation from law school in May of 1997 when he was hired as a part-time consultant.
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Troy Weaver | Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver begins his first season as the club's assistant general manager after joining the Thunder in May of 2008. Weaver will assist General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he will coordinate 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 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.
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Director, Pro Player Personnel: Bill Branch
Director, College and International Player Personnel: Rob Hennigan
Director, East Coast Scouting: Frank Ross
International Scout: Massimo Biasin
Advanced Scout: Bob Thornton
Scout:Jim Thomas
Director, Basketball Administration & Technology: Paul Rivers
Director, Medical Services: Dr. Donnie Strack
Head Athletic Trainer: Joe Sharpe
Director, Athletic Performance/Assistant Coach: Dwight Daub
Director, Team Operations: Marc St. Yves
Video Coordinator: Vin Bhavnani
Director, Team Security: Michael Chatman
Director, Basketball Communications: Brian Facchini
Manager, Basketball Communications: Michael Ravina
Coordinator, Basketball Communications: John Read
Manager, Player Appearances and Services: Ayana Clinton
Assistant to the General Manager: Leslie Purcell
Assistant to Basketball Operations: Julie Hanneman
Team Travel Coordinator: Judy Riddle
Basketball Operations Assistant : Will Dawkins
Basketball Operations Assistant : Brandon Miller
Basketball Operations Assistant : Wilson Taylor
Facility Operations: Shannon Begnel
Head Team Primary Care Physician: Daniel Clinkenbeard
Head Team Orthopedic Physician: Carlan Yates
