Thibodeau Finalizes Deal To Become Wolves' New Head Coach
By Ryan Mayer
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been searching for their new head coach since the season ended with a 144-109 win over the Pelicans on April 14th. Rumors have connected them to ESPN color commentator Jeff Van Gundy, former Warriors coach Mark Jackson and former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.
On Wednesday, WCCO confirmed that Thibodeau and the Wolves finalized a contract for Thibs to become the new President of Basketball Operations and head coach for the team.
Tom Thibodeau is finalizing a five-year deal to become president and coach of the Timberwolves, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2016
According to Woj, the San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Scott Layden will also join the Timberwolves as the GM of the team.
Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden is working on a deal to join Thibodeau as his GM in Minnesota, league sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2016
Thibodeau started his coaching career in Minnesota back in the 1989-90 season as a part of Bill Musselman's staff. After two years as an assistant in Minnesota, Thibs made stops in San Antonio, Philadelphia, New York, Houston, and Boston as an assistant before finally getting his chance as a head coach in Chicago in 2010-2011.
He would go on to coach the Bulls for five seasons, compiling a record of 255-139 reaching the playoffs in each of those five years in addition to being named NBA Coach of the Year in that first season.
Thibodeau will inherit a team that finished 29-53 this year, a 13 game improvement over their record in 2014-15. They won four of their final five games and have the presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year in Karl-Anthony Towns in addition to what will likely be a Top 10 pick. Financial terms of the deal haven't been released as of yet.