http://www.startribune.com/wolves-to-use-firm-for-coaching-search-sam-mitchell-remains-in-mix/375615991/#1Wolves relieve Sam Mitchell of coaching duties, start search
By Jerry Zgoda Star Tribune APRIL 13, 2016 -- 10:38PM
Minnesota Timberwolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell addressed the media likely for the last time as Timberwolves coach Wednesday following his team's 144-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Timberwolves made it official, relieving Sam Mitchell of his coaching duties Wednesday night after their win over New Orleans.
The Wolves have launched a search for their next head coach and new leader of basketball operations, a process that will begin exclusively outside the organization, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Mitchell could be considered later, but will not be part of the initial process for which Wolves owner Glen Taylor has hired a search firm to identify top candidates.
The two jobs could be filled with one elite head coach who has authority in personnel decisions and front-office structure. That's the arrangement Stan Van Gundy has in Detroit and Flip Saunders had with the Wolves before his death last October.
Or Taylor could elect to hire a president of basketball operations-type who then would hire a head coach.
Yahoo!Sports reported Wednesday that search will target former Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau, former Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks and current television analyst Jeff Van Gundy.
Minnesota Timberwolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell spoke to reporters Wednesday night following his team's 144-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Others are expected to be included as well, including coaches currently employed by other NBA teams.
Last month, Taylor said General Manager Milt Newton will conduct the June draft and July's free agency period and his future with the franchise will be evaluated later this summer. Taylor at the time did not address Mitchell's future other than to say that decision and other important ones would be made at season's end.
Such coaches as Thibodeau and Van Gundy are expected to demand authority in personnel decisions and front-office structure.
The Wolves' regular season ends with Wednesday night's finale against New Orleans.
Mitchell has coached the Wolves to a 28-53 record entering Wednesday game after he was promoted in September from associate head coach to interim head coach the day the team announced Saunders was taking a leave of absence while he battled cancer.
The Wolves started the season 8-8, struggled in December and January when they went 3-19 through one stretch and finished strong after beating the Clippers in Los Angeles in early February.
They went 8-7 after winning in Oklahoma City in early March for the first time since 2008. That stretch also included victories at Golden State, Portland and Memphis. The Wolves had gone 2-27 in those four cities these last four seasons.
The Wolves went 3-0 on a Western trip in which they upset the Warriors and beat Sacramento and the Trail Blazers last week.
Last weekend, Mitchell acknowledged the Wolves' job might become perhaps the most desirable of all openings because of that developing young talent. Coaching jobs inevitably become open once the season ends and playoff series conclude.
"It's funny to me, now all of a sudden this is a great job," Mitchell said. "After last year, nobody wanted this job. Nobody thought this was a good job. Now all of a sudden it's a good job, so I'm proud of that."