Basketball Operations
Coaching Staff
Sam Presti | Executive Vice President and General Manager
The 2010-11 season marks the fourth year for Sam Presti as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Professional Basketball Club Chairman Clayton Bennett appointed Presti to his current position on June 7, 2007.
During his tenure with the Thunder, Presti has assembled the building blocks for long-term success both on and off the court. 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 gone onto win the NBA’s Rookie Of The Year award and most recently he became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league’s scoring title after averaging 30.1 points per game during the 2009-10 season.
This last year, Presti oversaw 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 ninth largest in NBA history.
Through the NBA draft, Presti has continued to add the pieces needed to achieve the organization’s singular focus of sustaining success on the floor and in the community. Most notably, Presti selected forward Jeff Green (No. 5 overall) on draft night 2007 through a trade with the Boston Celtics, UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the teams No. 4 overall selection in 2008 and Arizona State guard James Harden with the No. 3 overall selection in 2009.
This past summer, Presti acquired the draft rights to Kansas big man Cole Aldrich with the No. 11 overall selection after completing a flurry of draft night trades. In all, the Thunder completed an NBA-high five draft night deals.
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 has made more than 450 community appearances in and around Oklahoma City.
Prior to joining the Thunder, the 33-year-old 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 September 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.
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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Troy Weaver | Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver is the club's assistant general manager, having joined the Thunder in May of 2008. Weaver assists General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he coordinate sthe 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 2010-11 season marks the fourth year for Sam Presti as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Professional Basketball Club Chairman Clayton Bennett appointed Presti to his current position on June 7, 2007.During his tenure with the Thunder, Presti has assembled the building blocks for long-term success both on and off the court. 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 gone onto win the NBA’s Rookie Of The Year award and most recently he became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league’s scoring title after averaging 30.1 points per game during the 2009-10 season.
This last year, Presti oversaw 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 ninth largest in NBA history.
Through the NBA draft, Presti has continued to add the pieces needed to achieve the organization’s singular focus of sustaining success on the floor and in the community. Most notably, Presti selected forward Jeff Green (No. 5 overall) on draft night 2007 through a trade with the Boston Celtics, UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the teams No. 4 overall selection in 2008 and Arizona State guard James Harden with the No. 3 overall selection in 2009.
This past summer, Presti acquired the draft rights to Kansas big man Cole Aldrich with the No. 11 overall selection after completing a flurry of draft night trades. In all, the Thunder completed an NBA-high five draft night deals.
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 has made more than 450 community appearances in and around Oklahoma City.
Prior to joining the Thunder, the 33-year-old 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 September 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.
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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Troy Weaver | Assistant General Manager
Troy Weaver is the club's assistant general manager, having joined the Thunder in May of 2008. Weaver assists General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he coordinate sthe 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
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