Managing Investor– Bill Ilett
President & General Manager– Steve Brandes
VP of Sales & Service– Simon Keeling
Director of Public Relations & Game Operations– Jinny Giery
Account Executive– Dan Aizpitarte
Account Executive– Adam Cantrell
Media & Public Relations Coordinator– Jeff Johnson
Dance Team Director– Jennifer Hordemann
Radio Play-by-Play– Mark Snider
Financial Controller– Frank Ilett
Head Coach– Bob MacKinnon
Assistant Coach– Joel Abelson
Athletic Trainer– Kevin Taylor
Videographer– Ron Weatherly

Business Operations

A native of Amherst, Ohio, Brandes enjoys a diverse background ranging from traveling to Russia as a student ambassador to being a professional archaeologist for two years. Steve obtained a liberal arts degree from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. He then attended Game Face, Inc.'s Executive Academy, a leading international sports sales training and placement company in Portland, Oregon. Brandes sold for a plethora of teams during his four months at Game Face including; the Portland Winterhawks, Hudson Valley Renegades, Los Angeles Avengers, Portland International Raceway, Everrett Aquasox, and Portland State University Football. For more information about Game Face Inc.’s Executive Academy log on to gamefacesportsjobs.com.

Steve began with the Stampede as an Account Executive and has moved up the ranks through nearly every position available. He has served as the Stampede’s Director of Ticket Sales and Game Operations as well as the Assistant General Manager. Through his time at the Stampede, Brandes has helped the team with transitions to a new arena and to a new league (CBA to NBA Development League). He also played an integral role in the success of the 2006 CBA All-Star Classic and the 2008 NBA Development League Showcase hosted in Boise. Steve takes great pride in continuing to build the Stampede’s Community efforts with the addition of many new and successful programs through the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation. Email: steve@idahostampede.com

Simon Keeling
VP of Sales & Service
Simon enters his third season with the Idaho Stampede as the V.P. of Sales & Service. He started with the team as an Account Executive during the teams first season in the NBA Development League and has worked his way up through the ranks. His focus with the team is to lead the sales staff and drive season ticket sales, group nights and mini-plans. Simon also oversees all of the Teams ticket operations and is very passionate about maintaining a superior level of customer service for the Stampede clientel.

Originally from Doncaster, England, Simon completed his undergraduate degree in Sports Entertainment and Event Management at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

“I am excited to continue my professional development with such a highly respected and reputable organization within the NBA Family. To return here with an opportunity to lead our sales team and play an intricate role in helping to continue the growth of this franchise is one that I enthusiastically look forward to”, said Keeling.

Keeling resides in Boise.

Email: simon@idahostampede.com

Jinny Giery
Director of Public Relations & Game Operations
Jinny Giery enters her fourth season with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League as the Director of Public Relations and Game Operations. Her focus with the team will be season and group ticket sales, overall game presentation and entertainment, and handling all media requests.

Originally from Virginia, Giery grew up playing softball, basketball and field hockey. Giery completed her undergraduate degree in 2005, majoring in Commmunications and English at Boise State University.

After graduation, Giery was a producer at KIVI-Channel 6, and most recently was a marketing associate with the Boise Hawks baseball team.

Email: jinny@idahostampede.com

Dan Aizpitarte
Account Executive
Dan Aizpitarte enters his second season with the Idaho Stampede as an Account Executive. His responsibilities include focusing on season ticket sales, group nights, mini-plans, and various operations.

Originally from Emmett, Idaho, Aizpitarte is fluent in Basque and you can find him participating in many local Basque events around town. He attended the University of Idaho where he was a proud member of the Vandal defensive line for four years. Aizpitarte graduated with a double major in marketing and human resources management.

In his spare time, Aizpitarte can be found shooting hoops with friends, visiting his family, and singing karaoke whenever someone will pass him the microphone.

Email: dan@idahostampede.com

Adam Cantrell
Account Executive
Adam Cantrell enters his first season with the Idaho Stampede as an Account Executive. His responsibilities include focusing on season ticket sales, group nights, mini-plans, and various operations.

Originally from Colleyville, Texas, Cantrell is an avid Texas Tech fan. He attended Texas Tech University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science and a master’s degree in Sport Management.

In his spare time, Cantrell can be found spending time outdoors with his German shorthaired pointer, Mae.

Email: adam@idahostampede.com

Jeff Johnson
Media & Public Relations Coordinator
Jeff Johnson enters his second season with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League as Media and Public Relations Coordinator. His focus is to assist the Director of Public Relations with all media requests and will play an important role in preparing game day published materials.

Johnson has lived in Boise all his life, graduating from Capital High School in 2003. In high school he lettered in both football and basketball.

After high school, Johnson served a two year LDS mission in New York City, NY. Upon returning, he enrolled at Boise State University, where he is currently majoring in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations.

Johnson resides in Boise with his wife Laura and son Jack.

Email: info@idahostampede.com

Jennifer Hordemann
Director, Stampede Spirit dance team
Jennifer Huter is entering her eighth season as a member of the Idaho Stampede Spirit Dance Team. This will be her third year as Director.

Jennifer attended Utah State University from 2000-2002, where she was a member of the Aggiette Dance Team. After returning home to Boise, she began her career with the Spirit Dancers.

Jennifer graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She is employed at Ada Plastic Surgery and St. Alphonsus Family Medical Clinic.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys running, skiing, wakeboarding, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Jennifer resides in Eagle with her husband Vince.

Email: spiritdanceteam@hotmail.com

Basketball Operations

Bob MacKinnon enters his first year with the Stampede after serving as the head coach for the Colorado 14ers during the 2008-09 season. During his one year tenure with the 14ers, MacKinnon led the team to a 34-16 (.680) record and defeated the Utah Flash to win the 2009 NBA Development League Championship.

A native of Buffalo, NY and the son of longtime NBA coach and General Manager Bob MacKinnon, Sr., MacKinnon played college basketball at King’s college in Wilkes-Barre, PA, before embarking on his coaching career. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Niagara University in 1997.

MacKinnon’s coaching career started at his alma mater as an assistant before moving on to assistant coaching positions at Mercyhurst College, George Washington University and Niagara. He took over as head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1997 and won a pair of Skyline Conference Championships, posting a 38-16 record in two seasons. He was also named the 1999 Skyline Conference Coach of the Year. From there he served as an assistant coach with Matt Doherty at Notre Dame for one season before transferring to UNC. During his first season with UNC, the Tar Heels had an 18-game winning streak and were ranked number one in the country.

In 2003, MacKinnon joined the staff of the Marshall University men’s basketball team as the senior assistant for four seasons. From there, he earned a position with the Los Angeles Lakers as a scout as well as the associate director of the L.A. Lakers summer camps from 2005-08.

MacKinnon will reside in Boise with his wife, Suzanne, and their four sons Bobby Jr., Matthew, Brendan, and Ryan.

Joel Abelson
Assistant Coach
Joel Abelson enters his second year with the Stampede as Assistant Coach. He returns to Boise after serving as the assistant coach of the Stampede under Bryan Gates last season.

Abelson was integral in leading the Stampede to the playoffs during the 2008-09 season. Before joining the Stampede, he worked under head coach Joey Meyer with the Tulsa 66ers as an assistant coach. The University of Michigan graduate worked for the Charlotte Bobcats basketball operations in 2007 and at Abunassar Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, training NBA stars such as Baron Davis, Jermaine O’Neal, Chauncey Billups, and Paul Pierce. He spent this past summer working for NBA coaching veteran, Bob Hill, as well as coaching during the 2009 NBA Development League Pre-Draft Camp.

Abelson will reside in Boise.

Kevin Taylor
Athletic Trainer

Ron Weatherly
Video Coordinator