TIMBERWOLVES: Front Office

Glen Taylor
Owner

On March 23, 1995, Glen Taylor closed the deal that made him majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added the title of NBA owner to a list that already included international businessman, state senator, entrepreneur, philanthropist and executive of the year.

Before he even completed his first full year season as owner, Taylor set in motion his plan for making a mark on the Minnesota sports scene. Prior to the completion of the sale of the team from Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, Taylor installed Rob Moor, Roger Griffith and Chris Wright to run the business functions of the franchise, and promoted Minnesota and NBA basketball legend Kevin McHale to develop the team. With the move of McHale to vice president of basketball and the addition of general manager Jim Stack and head coach Randy Wittman, Taylor has assembled a basketball staff with years of experience in the pro ranks.

Taylor is Chairman of the Board of Taylor Corporation, located in Mankato, Minn., 75 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. The Taylor Companies, which are involved in the printing, marketing and electronics industries, include more than 70 operating divisions in 19 states, three Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico. Their employees number more than 14,000, including more than 5,000 Minnesotans.

Taylor built his company from modest beginnings. While a student at Mankato State University in 1959, he took a part-time job at Carlson Wedding Service, Fifteen years later, in 1974, he acquired a majority interest in the company, laying the foundation for what would soon grow into Taylor Corporation.

Taylor's business savvy has been recognized by Corporate Report magazine, which honored him as its Executive of the Year (1987), and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Minneapolis/St. Paul, who awarded him with their Sales Executive of the Year Award (1999). He was also inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame (2002) by Twin Cities Monthly Magazine.

Taylor was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1980, where he served until 1990. He became assistant Senate minority leader in 1982. From 1984 to 1986, he served as Senate minority leader. While in the Senate, Taylor was instrumental in providing leadership in the areas of higher education, child care and economic development policies.

Through personal involvement, Taylor has remained active in many civic and charitable causes. In Mankato, he has served as YMCA President, Chamber of Commerce Director, Mankato Jaycees President and United Way Campaign Chairman. He has also has served on his church's board of deacons and board of trustees and on the Mankato State University Foundation board of directors. On the state level, Taylor has served as the director of the Minnesota Business partnership, director of the Greater Minnesota Corporation and president of the International Thermographers Association.

Nationally, Taylor has provided expert testimony on business and child care issues to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and served as a committee chair on the 1991 Commission on Reform and Efficiency (CORE).

In 1997, Mankato State University awarded Taylor his first honorary doctorate. Taylor received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws for his distinguished professional career and volunteer service. In October 2001, Taylor was inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Hall of Distinction.

Taylor was born April 20, 1941, and raised on a farm 60 miles west of his current home in Mankato. He graduated from Comfrey (Minn.) High School in 1959. In just three years, he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics, physics and social science from Mankato State University. He later continued his education at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

Taylor lives in Mankato with his wife Becky. His children, Terri, Jean, Taylor Moor, Jeff, and Kendahl, and grandchildren, Andrea, Melissa, Grayson, Emma and Abby, and great-granddaughters, Piper and Riley, enjoy attending many of the Timberwolves and Lynx games.

Rob Moor
Chief Executive Officer

Rob Moor became chief executive officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004 following 10 years as the team's president. While reorganizing the Timberwolves and building a first-class staff, Moor was also involved in securing a WNBA franchise for Minnesota in 1998 and, in 2004, leading the effort to form Midwest Entertainment Group and manage Target Center until the spring of 2007.

Moor's strategic goals for the Timberwolves and Lynx revolve around customer service and a fan-centered attitude. "If we provide great customer service and great entertainment we will always be successful," Moor says.

Prior to coming to Minnesota, Moor was the executive vice president of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. Moor began his career in entertainment at MGM Studios in film production. He was involved in the merger with United Artists and subsequent sale of the studios to Ted Turner. Later, he joined 20th Century Fox working in the areas of film distribution.

Moor has worked on a number of non-profit boards and continues to serve on the boards of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association and the Downtown Council.

A native of Geneva, Switzerland, Moor moved to the United States in 1966, living in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, California. Moor currently resides in Plymouth, Minn.

Chris Wright
President

This season marks Wright's 18th year with the Timberwolves organization and fourth as the team's president. Wright is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the team.

He leads a senior management group that is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business operations of the franchise. By developing a culture of success, Wright and his senior management team are integrating the business and basketball operations to meet the strategic and financial goals of the team.

As president, Wright also articulates the mission for the organization which is to surround fans with the world-class athleticism and complete entertainment of the NBA and WNBA. Whether coming to the arena, watching a game on television, purchasing a ticket online, or meeting players and staff in the community, Timberwolves fans know that they are the sole focus of the organization's efforts. To fulfill this mission, Wright has established company-wide priority around the following goals: Having the Best Staff, Embracing a FansFirst Attitude, Embodying the Timberwolves Brand, Being an Active Member of the Community and being Good Stewards of Budgets.

A native of England, Wright came to the United States in 1978. Prior to joining the Timberwolves, he spent three years working for the state of Minnesota, first as a consultant working on bids for major national and international events, including the programming of the $17.4 million National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Prior to that, Wright also served as general manager for two Major Indoor Soccer League Teams, the Pittsburgh Spirit (1981-86) and the Minnesota Strikers (1986-87).

Wright, who graduated from Carnegie College of Physical Education in Headingly Leeds, Yorkshire, England, is very involved in and consults with many local charities and youth sports programs. He resides in Eden Prairie, Minn., with his wife, Walla, their sons Jeff and Ned, and their daughter, Christy.

Kevin McHale
Vice President of Basketball Operations

On February 12, 2005, McHale added the title of head coach to his already impressive resume, becoming the sixth bench leader in team history. He took over for Flip Saunders, who was relieved of his coaching duties. Under McHale, the Timberwolves went 19-12 down the stretch in 2004-05.

In the summer of 2005, McHale engineered a number of transactions to help the Wolves improve in the tough Western Conference. Through drafting, trades and free agent signings, McHale landed Rashad McCants, Marko Jaric and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Additionally, McHale hired longtime Seattle SuperSonics associate head coach Dwane Casey to become the team's seventh head coach.

McHale's constant desire to improve the Timberwolves and his single-minded focus to win mirrors the attitude he exhibited during his Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics.

One of McHale's most heralded moves came on May 11, 1995 Ñ he selected high-school phenom Kevin Garnett with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. Considered a bold move at the time, the Wolves were rewarded with an outstanding rookie campaign from Garnett.

McHale has had a history of success in the game of basketball. In high school, he led Hibbing to the Minnesota Class AA State Basketball Tournament title game. In college, he posted a career average of 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in four seasons at the University of Minnesota, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1979 and 1980. And in the pro ranks, he joined the Boston Celtics for three NBA championships, the first coming in his rookie season with the team.

McHale continued that tradition of quick success with the Timberwolves, moving from special assistant in 1993-94 to assistant general manager in 1994-95 to vice president of basketball operations. In that role, McHale is responsible for the team's entire basketball operations department, overseeing player personnel decisions, scouting and the coaching staff.

In McHale's first season with the Wolves, 1993-94, he served as a special assistant to the coaching staff. That position utilized the experience of his lengthy basketball career, which culminated in the retiring of his pro, college and high-school game jerseys. In August 1994, he was promoted to a newly created position of assistant general manager.

Prior to coming to the Timberwolves organization, McHale played 13 seasons as a power forward for the Celtics before retiring in the spring of 1993. A first-round selection (third overall) by Boston in the 1980 NBA Draft, McHale helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984 and 1986), five Eastern Conference titles and eight Atlantic Division crowns. He was voted the NBA's top sixth man twice (1984, 1985) and was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1987. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (1986, 1987 and 1988). The 6-10 forward/center averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in 971 career regular-season games. He shot 55.4 percent from the floor and 79.8 percent at the free throw line. In 169 postseason contests, McHale increased his averages to 18.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.

On Oct. 1, 1999, Kevin McHale was recognized for his achievements with the Celtics by being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. In the typical McHale style, he gave credit to his teammates for helping him to get there. But no one goes into the Hall of Fame without a lot of hard work and personal accomplishment.

In addition to being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, McHale has received other honors for his basketball prowess. On July 8, 2000, he was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame. During the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland, he was honored as one of the NBA's Top 50 Players for the league's first half-century. On Feb. 18, 1995, he was honored as the top player in U of M men's basketball history, as the school celebrated its 100th anniversary in the sport.

McHale and his wife, Lynn, along with their five children, Kristyn, Michael, Joseph, Alexandra and Thomas, reside in North Oaks, Minn.

Jim Stack
General Manager

Jim Stack enters his second season with the Timberwolves after being named the team's General Manager on July 9, 2004. Stack came to the organization with 22 years of professional basketball experience as a player and front office executive. Stack has served in the basketball operations departments of the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.

Stack spent the 2003-04 campaign as an advance scout with the Knicks. Before his stint in New York, Stack spent three years as an assistant coach with the Pacers, beginning with the 2000-01 season.

During Stack's 13-year tenure with Chicago, the team won six NBA titles and established a record for most wins in a season, with 72 regular-season wins in 1995-96. Stack last served as the Assistant Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Bulls for four years after being promoted from his previous job as Special Assistant to the Vice President of Basketball Operations, where he spent eight years. As the Special Assistant, his duties included scouting on all levels, contract negotiations and analysis. Stack played an active role in the acquisition of every Bulls player, and his duties also included free agent scouting and all playoff advance scouting. Stack began as a scout with the Bulls organization prior to the 1988-89 campaign.

Upon his 1983 graduation from Northwestern University, Stack was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the sixth round (117th overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft. He spent five years playing professionally with teams in Belgium, Israel and France.

Zarko Durisic
Director of Player Personnel

Durisic begins his first season as the team's director of player personnel after serving eight years as the Wolves' director of international scouting. In his new role he will focus on the draft and salary cap issues.

A native of Montenegro (part of the former Yugoslavia), Durisic played for the national teams of Yugoslavia at all levels (cadets, juniors and seniors). He came to the United States in 1980 and attended Wichita State University. Durisic was a member of two NCAA tournament qualifiers. His 1982 team lost to eventual national champion North Carolina State. Durisic's teammates at Wichita State included former NBA standouts Cliff Levingston, Austin Carr and Xavier McDaniel. After graduation from Wichita State in 1984, Durisic played professionally for 11 seasons in Slovenia, where his teams won six Slovenian national titles.

Following his playing career, Durisic coached in Slovenia. His 1995-96 squad included future NBA players Rasho Nesterovic and Vladimir Stepania. Durisic, his wife, Tatiana, and their daughters, Jelena and Alexsandra, reside in Los Angeles.

Mike Lindahl
Video Coordinator

Mike Lindahl begins his third season as the team's video coordinator.

Lindahl is responsible for recording and editing of all videotapes of Wolves' games, opponents' games and numerous college contests. The videos are used for evaluating Wolves' performances, scouting upcoming opponents and assessing collegiate talent.

Lindahl is a 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in sport management.

Lindahl and his wife, Heidi, reside in Shakopee, Minn.

Gregg Farnam
Head Athletic Trainer

Gregg Farnam begins his ninth season with the Timberwolves and his sixth as the team's head athletic trainer. He came to the organization from the St. Paul Saints Northern League baseball team, where he served as trainer during the 1998 baseball season.

He was the athletic trainer for the gold medal-winning United States men's basketball team at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, in September 2001. He also provided medical coverage for the women's volleyball team and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July 2003.

In addition to being responsible for every aspect of the Wolves' training room operations, Farnam works closely with the team's medical staff in monitoring a player's physical condition as well as the assessing and treatment of injuries. He is also responsible for coordinating team travel.

Farnam has also provided game coverage for the Institute for Athletic Medicine. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine from St. Cloud State University and has a master's degree in exercise science and health promotions from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a certified member of the National Trainers Association, as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Farnam and his wife, Tiffany, along with their sons, Nolan and Maximilian, and daughter, Mae, reside in Rogers, Minn.

Andre Deloya
Timberwolves Physical Therapist

Andre Deloya is entering his sixth season as the team's physical therapist. He joined the team after serving for 10 years as a supervisor for the Institute for Athletic Medicine in Minneapolis.

Deloya has over 25 years of experience in the field of physical therapy. Deloya graduated with a master's degree in physical therapy from Columbia University and has a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University. He has extensive experience in neuro-rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation and sports and dance medicine.

He has worked with professional athletes from Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League, as well as local and national dance companies and touring musicians and figure skaters.

Deloya is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Deloya and his wife, Eileen, along with their daughters, Amanda and Hailey, reside in Edina, Minn. div>

Thomas McKinney
Timberwolves Strength and Conditioning Coach

Thomas McKinney enters his second season as the team's strength and conditioning coach. A specialist in the field for over 10 years, he is responsible for developing and prescribing individualized training programs for the Wolves.

McKinney has had previous experience working in the athletics department at the University of North Carolina for over three years. Prior to his stay at North Carolina, McKinney served as director of strength and conditioning at Columbia University from 1997-2001. While at Columbia, he directed the day-to-day functions relating to the operation and maintenance of a 6,500-square-foot intercollegiate strength and conditioning facility. He is a certified member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and United States of America Weight Lifting.

McKinney received both his undergraduate (English) and master's degrees (Sports Psychology) from the University of Virginia. A native of New York City, he resides in Minnetonka, Minn., with his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Joshua.