Sept. 18, 1989 The Timberwolves today announced the hiring of Bob Zuffelato as an assistant coach. Zuffelato (pronounced zuff-uh-LAH-toe), 51, has 26 years of basketball experience, including the last two as Director of Player Personnel for the Milwaukee Bucks. He will serve as first assistant to head coach Bill Musselman, helping administer practice sessions and serving as bench assistant during all games.
Zuffelato brings five years of NBA experience, including three (1983-86) as assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. His career also includes 10 seasons of head coaching experience on the major college level.
"Bob's background is well-suited to become an assistant with the Timberwolves," Musselman said. "Ten years of coaching at the college level, plus his NBA experience, will make him a valuable member of our staff. He comes to us from an outstanding organization and is highly respected around the league."
Said Timberwolves president Bob Stein, "Bob's experience and character make him a valuable member of our staff. We appreciated the cooperation of the Milwaukee Bucks, which made his hiring possible."
Zuffelato's duties with Milwaukee included organizing the club's scouting efforts and college draft preparation. Prior to joining the Bucks, he spent one year (1986-87) working with Boston-based sports attorney Bob Woolf. However, it was his love of coaching that attracted Zuffelato to the Timberwolves position.
"It (returning to coaching) is something that has burned inside of me for a long time," Zuffelato said. "This is an opportunity to help build the foundation of what could be a great franchise and to work with a quality coach in Bill Musselman."
Prior to beginning his NBA career, Zuffelato compiled a 160-121 record as a college head coach at Boston College (six seasons) and Marshall University (four seasons).
The Torrington, Conn., native began his coaching career as assistant freshman basketball coach at the University of Michigan in 1959. He later coached six years on the high school level in Michigan and Connecticut before becoming assistant coach at Hofstra (NY) University in 1966, where he spent two seasons before taking a similar position for one season at his alma mater, Central Connecticut State University.
In 1969 he accepted the assistant job at Boston College under Chuck Daly (now head coach of the World Champion Detroit Pistons). He succeeded Daly as head coach in 1971, going 89-80 in six seasons. In 1977 he joined Marshall as associate head coach before taking over the program in 1979, posting a 71-41 record in four years.
Zuffelato teams with former Harvard University assistant Tom Thibodeau as members of Musselman's coaching staff.