The Minnesota Timberwolves announced Tuesday that the team has hired John-Blair Bickerstaff as an assistant coach on Randy Wittman's staff. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"This is a great opportunity to come to Minnesota and be a part of Randy's staff," Bickerstaff said. "I enjoyed my time with the organization as a broadcaster and I'm excited to start in my role in improving the team as an assistant coach."
Bickerstaff spent the past three seasons (2004-05 - 2006-07) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats. He worked under his father, Bernie - an NBA veteran of almost 30 years, who was the general manager and head coach of the Bobcats. Both Bickerstaffs have held the distinction of being the youngest coach in the NBA - John-Blair at age 26 in 2005 and Bernie at age 29 in 1973.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Bickerstaff returns to the Timberwolves organization where he was the color analyst on radio broadcasts for the 2003-04 season. Prior to that, he served as the director of operations for the University of Minnesota men's basketball program where he oversaw all administrative areas of the program and assisted the coaching staff.
"I'm excited that we were able to bring J.B. back to the Timberwolves," Wittman said. "As a young assistant who comes from a great basketball background, he'll add a lot to our staff and I'm looking forward to working with him."
Bickerstaff played two seasons of college basketball with the Golden Gophers from 1999-2001. He averaged 9.4 ppg and 5.8 rpg in those campaigns and finished his senior season with 10.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg. His collegiate career started at Oregon State University where he was the youngest NCAA Division I player as a 17-year-old freshman.