Dakota Wizards' Staff Meets The Challenge
by Stuart Winchester, D-League.com
NBA Development League teams face many challenges. They are often located far from major media markets in cities with fewer than 100,000 residents, and fans don’t always understand the direct affiliation the teams have with NBA franchises. But among the greatest challenges facing the league’s 16 teams is that the front-office staff is frequently far smaller than the number of players on the roster, an inverse of the proportion in the majority of professional sports, in which staff can number into the hundreds. And while many understaffed NBA D-League teams go to extraordinary lengths to support their team’s day-to-day operations, none are more impressive than the heroic efforts of the Dakota Wizards, who grind through the 50-game season with a full-time staff of just three.
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Literally. General Manager Tom Wagganer described a recent two-day span as follows: “We had a 9:00 meeting this morning and a sales call afterward, so we went over to the potential partner about a promotion we were trying to launch. Then we went to clean up the Bismarck Civic Center and take down the sponsor banners. Later this afternoon we have to come back and have another meeting to talk about a sponsor, then a couple of PR interviews, where we’re trying to set up a CR [community relations] event with the local schools. We also have to follow up with season-ticket holders and sponsors to make them aware of where and when the team plays. Last night we had a networking function with the local Chamber of Commerce, so we had to man a booth and collect a database of names, and then it was out to pick up the vans to take the guys to the airport.” Marketing, public relations, sponsorship deals, community service, data management, and chauffer. And that’s just in two days.
The Wizards organization is a touchstone for the NBA D-League as a whole, as it showcases the extraordinary work ethic and dedication characteristic of each team. “There is a lot of multitasking,” Wagganer said. “There’s no true job description. Everybody does a bit of everything. Our staff understands that you have to do everything that’s asked of you. If you see something that’s wrong, you have to step in and correct it.”
Some professional sports teams may have separate vice presidents to oversee human resources, marketing, public relations, seating, finance, brand management, and operations, among others, along with an entire support staff to facilitate each department’s initiatives. The Wizards’ more freewheeling front-office assignments perhaps create an atmosphere that rewards its staffers with unique and dynamic roles that may not be available in a more traditional setting.
Take, for example, Team President and part owner Dawn Kopseng, one of the few female owners in all of professional sports. When her neighbors, Steve and Karen McCormick, offered her a chance to purchase a share of the Wizards after another owner defaulted on his share, the North Dakota native and lifelong basketball fan did not hesitate to join them.
The NBA D-League is happy to see some of its core values – accessibility and innovation – manifested in the ownership ranks. “Dawn is a tremendous leader,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “She is knowledgeable, passionate, and highly engaged in every aspect of team operations.”
Read The First Four Editions Of A Day In The Life:
A Day In The Life Volume One: Sioux Falls Skyforce Owners
A Day In The Life Volume Two: Kevin Carroll
A Day In The Life Volume Three: Make Way For Brent Petway
A Day In The Life Volume Four: Tulsa's Ryan Humphrey
A Day In The Life Volume Five: Coaching Consultant Bob Hill
