Phoenix Suns2005-2006

SchedulePhoenix Suns2005-2006

Schedule

MARCHSUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

DAL1:30pm

POR7pm

SEA8pm

UTAH8:30pm

NJ5:30pm

MIL6pm

SA6:30pm

N ORL6pm

MIL7pm

LA C7pm

SA8:30pm

POR7pm

IND6pm

TOR5pm

MIN7pm

DEN7pm

ORL8pm

2

5 6 9 10107

43

1212

1919 2020

2929 3131

2121 2222

1515

8

1

2323 2424 2525

2626 2727 2828 3030

1414 1616 1717 1818

1111

1313

JANUARY

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

NY5:30pm

DEN7pm

SAC8pm

ORL5pm

PHI5pm

CLE11am

MIA6pm

ATL5pm

LA C8:30pm

PHI7pm

GS7pm

LA L8:30pm

SEA6pm

CLE7pm

MIA8:30pm

SA7pm

5

8 9 1212 13131010

1 2 3 76

1515

2222 2323 2424

3131

2525

1818

1111

4

2626 2727

2929 3030

1717 1919 2020 2121

1414

1616

2828

DECEMBERSUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

DEN7pm

NY8pm

ATL6pm

N ORL7pm

POR7pm

SEA7pm

GS8:30pm

DAL6pm

MIN6pm

WASH5pm

CHAR5:30pm

CHI5pm

N ORL6pm

MEM6pm

LA C8:30pm

WASH7pm

1

4 5 8 9 10107

1414

2626 2828 3030 3131

1616 1717

6

32

1111

1818 1919 2020 2121 2222 2323 2424

2525 2727 2929

1313 15151212

FEBRUARY

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

MIN7pm

HOU6:30pm

MEM7pm

HOU8pm

BOS7pm

CHAR7pm

SAC7pm

CHI7pm

BOS5:30pm

DEN7pm

NBA ALL-STAR WEEKENDHOUSTON,TX.

2

5 6 9 10107

43

1212

1919 2020

2727

2121 2222

1515

8

1

2323 2424 2525

2626 2828

1414 1616 1717 1818

1111

1313

APRILSUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

DET10am

SEA6pm

LA L12:30pm

SAC7pm

GS7:30pm

LA C7pm

N ORL7pm

POR7pm

DAL7:30pm

LA L7:30pm

2 3 6 74

9

1616 1717

2424 2626 2828 2929

1818 1919

1212

5

2020 2121 2222

2323

3030

2525 2727

1111 1313 1414 1515

8

1010

Schedule subject to change. All times listed are local Phoenix times.All games carried on KTAR 620 AM. All home games carried in Spanish on KSUN 1400 AM.

Daylight saving time starts April 2.

AWAYHOME

PRESEASON PRESEASON

PRESEASON PRESEASON

PRESEASON PRESEASONPRESEASON

PRESEASON

2623

OCTOBER

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

SEA7:30pm

LA C7pm

UTAH6pm

SEA7pm

SAC6pm

GS7pm

SAC7pm

GS7:30pm

8

176532

141413131212111110109

2222202018181616

2929282825252424

31313030

1515

2121

2626 2727

1717

2323

1919

4

NOVEMBER

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

DAL8:30pm

SAC6pm

MEM7pm

TOR7pm

IND7pm

NJ8:30pm

HOU5:30pm

SA6:30pm

UTAH7pm

LA L8:30pm

UTAH7pm

DET8:30pm

GS7pm

5432

1212111110109876

1919181817171616151514141313

2626252524242323222221212020

2929 303028282727

1

©2005, Phoenix Suns

MEDIA2 ...............Media Information3 ...............Media Directory4 ...............NBA 2005-06 Key Dates

PERSONNEL6-7 ............Team Directory8-9 ............Jerry Colangelo10..............Robert Sarver11..............Sam Garvin12..............Bryan Colangelo13..............Rick Welts14-17 .........Executive Staff17-22 .........Front Office Staff23..............Gorilla/Suns Dance Team24-25 .........Suns Broadcasters26-30 .........Basketball Operations Staff

PLAYERS32-60 .........Player Bios61..............Roster/Pronunciation Guide 62-64 .........Ring of Honor

2004-05 IN REVIEW66..............NBA Standings/Playoff Results67..............NBA Team Statistics68..............NBA Award Winners69..............Suns Final Statistics70-71 .........Suns Game-by-Game Results72-73 .........Key Dates74..............Suns Miscellaneous Statistics75..............Games Missed Due to Injury76..............Team Highs and Lows

RECORDS78-80 .........Suns Individual Records81-82 .........Suns Team Records83-84 .........Suns Team Lows84-85 .........Suns Top Nights

RECORDS (continued)86-87 .........Opponents Individual Records88-89 .........Opponents Team Records90..............Opponent Team Lows91..............Opponents Top Nights92-99 .........Phoenix Arena Records100-101......Regular Season Records102-103......Career Regular Season Leaders104-109......Year-by-Year Leaders110-113......Record Breakdowns114-115......Streaks and Extremes116-117......Suns Honor Roll118............Coaches Records119............Attendance Records

HISTORY122-123......Fantastic Story124-197......Year-by-Year Results198-227......All-Time Roster228-235......Year-by-Year Transactions236-239......Draft History

PLAYOFFS242-247......All-Time Playoff Results248-249......Suns Playoff Records250-251......Opponent Playoff Records252-253......Suns Career Playoff Leaders254............All-Time Playoff Breakdown

OPPONENTS256............NBA Offices257............NBA Alignment/NBA D-League258-315......NBA Teams263............NBA Officials Roster

COMMUNITY RELATIONS/AWA316-317......Suns Community Relations318............NBA Community Relations319-320......America West Arena

Executive Editor: Julie FieEditor: Dustin Krugel

Associate Editor: DC HeadleyPrinting by MP Printing & Graphics, LLCLayout by Page One Productions, Inc.

Photography by Barry Gossage, Norm Hall, NBA Photos and file photosSpecial thanks to: Sherry Reed, Thom Meaker, Bob Sertich, John Olson, Jeramie McPeek, Elias Sports Bureau

All NBA and team insignias depicted in this publication are the property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective teams, and may notbe reproduced for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. The information contained in thispublication was compiled by the Phoenix Suns and is provided as a courtesy to the press and our fans and may be used only for personalor editorial purposes. Any commercial use of this information is prohibited without the prior written consent of the Phoenix Suns.

TableofContentsTableofContents

3

Med

ia Info

rmat

ion

2

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NM

edia

Info

rmat

ion

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Media Directory

NEWSPAPERS

The Arizona Republic200 E. Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 444-8641, FAX (602) 444-8686Paul Coro (beat)Dan Bickley, Paola Boivin, Bob Young (columnists)Norm Frauenheim, Nick Piecoro,Tim Tyers (writers) Mark Faller (sports editor)Jay Dieffenbach (asst. sports editor)

East Valley/Scottsdale Tribune 120 W. First Ave., Mesa, AZ 85202(480) 898-6525, FAX (480) 898-5665Jerry Brown (beat) Mike Tulumello (writer)Scott Bordow (columnist)Bob Romantic (executive sports editor)Craig Morgan (sports editor)

Arizona Daily Star4850 S. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719(520) 573-4145, FAX (520) 573-4149Greg Hansen (columnist)James Bennett (sports editor)

Tucson Citizen4850 S. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719(520) 573-4635, FAX (520) 573-4569Steve Rivera, Ken Brazzle (writers)Mike Chesnick (sports editor)

Arizona Informant1746 E. Madison, Ste. 2, Phoenix, AZ 85034(602) 257-9300, FAX (602) 257-0547Vincent Crawford (writer)

Daily News-SunP.O. Box 1779, Sun City, AZ 85372(623) 876-3692, FAX (623) 876-3698Rich Bolas (sports editor)

WIRE SERVICES

Associated Press500 N. Third St., #120, Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 258-8934, FAX (602) 254-9573Bob Baum, Mel Reisner, Bert Rosenthal (writers)

SportsTicker2609 W. Southern Ave. #333, Tempe, AZ 85282Bob Huhn (reporter)

TEAM BROADCASTERS

KTAR 620 AM – Flagship201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 379-7900Al McCoy (play-by-play)Vinny Del Negro, Tim Kempton (color)Kevin Ray (pre/post game host)

UPN 45 Television201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 268-4500Tom Leander (play-by-play)Eddie Johnson, Dan Majerle (color)Dan Siekmann (director)Bob Adlhoch (producer)Kevin Ray (pregame/halftime host)Tom Chambers (pregame/halftime co-host)

FSN Arizona Television201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 257-8911Gary Bender (play-by-play)Eddie Johnson, Dan Majerle (color)Dan Siekmann (director of broadcasting)Bob Adlhoch (director)David Hughes (producer)Tom Leander (pregame/halftime host)

KSUN 1400 AM (Spanish)714 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 252-0030Gerardo Romo (play-by-play)Arturo Ochoa (color)

RADIO

KTAR 620 AM/ESPN 860 AM5300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012(602) 274-6200Tisa Vrable (program director)Kevin Ray (pre/post host, sports director)Dave Burns, Paul Calvisi (show hosts)Craig Grialou (reporter)Mitch Otto, Eric Sorenson (producers)

XTRA 910 AM645 E. Missouri, Ste. 244, Phoenix, AZ 85012(602) 798-9322Laurie Cantillo (program director)Barry Besse (executive producer)John Gambadoro, Mark Asher (show hosts)Dan Bickley, Mike Jurecki (show hosts)Joe Mack, Shawn Crespin (producers)

KDUS 1060 AM1900 W. Carmen, Tempe, AZ 85283(480) 838-0400Don DeBaca, Mike Haley (show hosts)Bill Lewis, Dale Hallestrae (show hosts)Bob Kemp (show host)Evan Cohen (reporter/guest host)Angel Velasquez (producer)

ARIZONA NEWS RADIO NETWORK14605 N. Airport Dr., Ste. 365, Scottsdale, AZ 85260George Tanner, Jeff Scott (reporters)

KFYI 550 AM645 E. Missouri, Ste. 244, Phoenix, AZ 85012Paul Hansen (reporter)

TELEVISION

FSN Arizona2 N. Central Ave., #1700, Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 257-9500, FAX (602) 257-0848Pat Murray (executive producer)Jody Jackson, Kevin McCabe, Todd Walsh (reporters)Michael Barcless, Brady Clyma,Marcus Teats (producers)

KNXV-TV (ABC, Ch. 15)515 N. 44th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008(602) 273-1500, FAX (602) 685-3000Craig Fouhy (director/anchor)Jeff Heisner (reporter)Cory Williams (producer)

KPHO-TV (CBS, Ch. 5)4016 N. Black Canyon, Phoenix, AZ 85017(602) 650-0775, FAX (602) 650-0761Jody Isaac (exec. director/producer)Chris Coraggio (director/anchor)Gary Cruz (reporter)

KPNX-TV (NBC, Ch. 12)1101 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 257-6661, FAX (602) 257-6670Barry Orr (executive producer)Bruce Cooper, Joe Pequeno (reporters)Dave Harrington (producer/photographer)

KSAZ-TV (FOX, Ch. 10)511 W. Adams, Phoenix, AZ 85003(602) 262-5124, FAX (602) 262-0435Chris Katsaras (executive producer)Jude LaCava (director/anchor)Gayle Jansen, Richard Saenz (reporters)Jeff Lake, Mark Malerich (producers)

KTVK-TV (Ind., Ch. 3)5555 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013(602) 207-3333; FAX (602) 207-3415Ross Shimabuku (director/anchor)Brad Cesmat, Chuck Fisher (reporters)Todd Kelly, Patrick Griffin (producer)

TELEMUNDO, KDRX, TV 644625 S. 33rd Pl., Phoenix, AZ 85040(602) 268-2648Francisco Romero (reporter)

UNIVISION, KTVW, TV 336006 S. 30th St., Phoenix, AZ 85042(602) 232-3500Felipe Corral (director/reporter)

KGUN-TV (ABC, Ch. 9)7280 Rosewood St., Tucson, AZ 85710(520) 722-5486, FAX (520) 733-7062Dave Silver (director)Ben Arnet (reporter)

KOLD-TV (CBS, Ch. 13)7831 N. Business Park Dr., Tucson, AZ 85743(520) 744-6397, FAX (520) 744-5235Scott Kilbury (director)Arron Andersen (weekend)

KVOA-TV (NBC, Ch. 4)209 W. Elm, Tucson, AZ 85743(520) 624-2477, FAX (520) 884-4644Dan Ryan (director)

Welcome to the 2005-06 National Basketball Association season. As the defendingPacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns begin their 38th NBA season, you can be sure toexpect many exciting moments. This season also marks the 14th season of Suns basketballin America West Arena, one of the most accessible arenas in the league. In an effort tocontinue to provide a professional working environment, please note the followingguidelines.

Media credentials are issued to working media only. All season and single-gamecredential holders should enter through the northeast entrance off 3rd Street andJefferson. Media will call opens two and one-half hours prior to the game. All credentialsare non-transferable, and any unauthorized use will subject bearer to ejection from theAmerica West Arena and confiscation of the pass. A photo identification will be

required to pick up your credential.

Individual game credentials should be requested through the Suns’ BasketballCommunications department (phone: (602) 379-7960; fax: (602) 379-7908) a minimumof 36 hours prior to game time or by noon Friday for all Saturday, Sunday and Mondaycontests. Passes will not be issued on game day. Only requests confirmed via phone oremail by the Basketball Communications department will be honored.

Credentials are good for admittance to the arena, media room and both locker rooms.Both the Suns and visiting locker rooms will be open 90 minutes before tip-off until 45minutes before the game and then again 10 minutes after the game. Coach D’Antoni’s post-game press conference starts approximately 10 minutes after the game in the Pacific Room.Your cooperation is asked in maintaining a working atmosphere. Absolutely NO autographsallowed during media access periods and NO cell phones are allowed in the locker room.

Photo credentials will be issued in the same manner as other passes. Weekly papers andmagazines on assignment may obtain passes by having the photo editor request a singlegame credential. It is club and NBA policy NOT to allow freelance photographers access. ALL photographers must have an armband in order to gain floor access. The armbands canbe obtained at the media will call check in.

Telephones for the working media should be ordered through Vicki Berryman at theAmerica West Arena (602) 379-2099. The Suns provide wireless service both courtside andin the working press room.

It is our sincere hope that this outline of procedures and guidelines will assist you inyour coverage of the National Basketball Association at the America West Arena. Please callthe Basketball Communications department if you need additional assistance.

Julie Fie DC Headley Dustin Krugel Sherry ReedVice President Manager Manager Assistant(602) 379-7916 (602) 379-7960 (602) 379-7994 (602) 379-7920jfie@suns.com dcheadley@suns.com dkrugel@suns.com sreed@suns.com

MediaInformationMediaInformation Paul Coro

Arizona Republic

Jerry BrownTribune Newspapers

4

NB

A 2

00

5-0

6 K

ey D

ates

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

2005

October 4 NBA Training Camps open

October 10 Start of the 2005 NBA Preseason schedule

October 14 Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

October 16 Maccabi Tel Aviv at Toronto Raptors (Air Canada Centre)

October 19 Maccabi Tel Aviv at Orlando Magic (TD Waterhouse Centre)

October 28 2005 NBA Preseason ends

October 31 Rosters set for opening day, 6 p.m. ET

November 1 Start of the 2005-06 NBA Regular Season

November 1-7 NBA Premiere Week

2006

January 5 10-day contracts may now be signed

January 10 All player contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season

February 19 NBA All-Star 2006 (Toyota Center, Houston, TX)

February 23 Trading Deadline, 3 p.m. ET

February 23-March 1 NBA Rivalry Week

April 5-8 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Portsmouth, VA)

April 19 2005-06 NBA Regular Season ends

April 20 Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2006, 3 p.m. ET

April 22 NBA Playoffs 2006 begin

April 28 NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline, 11:59 p.m. ET

May 23 NBA Draft Lottery

June 6-10 NBA Pre-Draft Camp

June 8 NBA Finals start date (possible move-up to June 6)

June 17 NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline

June 22 NBA Finals latest possible end date

June 27 NBA Draft (Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)

NBA 2005-06KeyDatesNBA 2005-06KeyDates

76

Team

Dir

ecto

ry

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NTe

am D

irec

tory

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Senior Management Jerry Colangelo: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Robert Sarver: Managing PartnerSam Garvin: Vice ChairmanBryan Colangelo: President & General ManagerRick Welts: President & Chief Operating OfficerJim Pitman: Executive Vice President, Finance/AdministrationDick Van Arsdale: Sr. Executive Vice PresidentHarvey Shank: Sr. Executive Vice PresidentAl McCoy: Sr. Vice President, BroadcastingTom O’Malley: Sr. Vice President, General CounselPaige Peterson: President & General Manager, Sports &Entertainment Services

Administrative Staff/Executive StaffRuth Dryjanski: Assistant to the ChairmanJacque Alonzo: Assistant to the President, GMGloria Santa Cruz: Asst. to the President and COODebbie Villa: Asst. to the Basketball Operations StaffRosie Esquivias: Asst. to the Executive V.P. and General CounselCeola Coaston: Administrative AssistantDonald Dangmuk: Staff AssistantJohn Olson: Director of Archive ServicesNeal Walk: Assistant Archivist

Coaching StaffMike D’Antoni: Head CoachMarc Iavaroni, Alvin Gentry, Phil Weber, Dan D’Antoni:Assistant Coaches

Todd Quinter: Assistant Coach, NBA Scout

Medical & Training Room StaffAaron Nelson: Head Athletic TrainerErik Phillips: Assistant Athletic Trainer/Strength &Conditioning Coach

Mike Elliott: Assistant Athletic TrainerDr. Thomas Carter, Dr. Craig Phelps: Team PhysiciansRichard Howell, Jay Gaspar: Equipment ManagersJoe Proski: Trainer EmeritusDr. Richard Emerson, Dr. Paul Steingard: Team Physicians Emeritus

Player Personnel & ScoutingMark West: Assistant General Manager, Player DevelopmentDavid Griffin: Assistant General Manager, Player PersonnelNoel Gillespie: Video CoordinatorJason March: Assistant Video CoordinatorTravis Agenter: Staff AssistantJohn Shumate: College ScoutMarco Crespi: Director, International ScoutingLjubisav Lukovic: European ScoutKevin Tucker: Director of Security

Basketball CommunicationsJulie Fie: Vice President, Basketball CommunicationsDC Headley: Basketball Communications ManagerDustin Krugel: Basketball Communications ManagerSherry Reed: Assistant to the V.P. of Basketball Communications

Marketing PartnershipsLynn Agnello: Sr. Vice President, Marketing PartnershipsMatthew Wright: Sr. Account Executive, Marketing PartnershipsCarlissa Henry: Account Executive, Marketing PartnershipsMichael Wandell: Account Executive, Marketing Partnerships Angela Yock: Sr. Partnership Activation SpecialistMegan Montgomery, Rachel Reinsmoen, Devney Preuss,Rebecca Montes: Partnership Activation SpecialistsBenicia Martin-Sorge: Media Traffic Manager, Marketing PartnershipsConnie Wallen: Assistant to the Sr. V.P. of Marketing Partnerships

Public Relations/Community RelationsRobert Harris: Vice President, Public Relations and Community Relations

Jamie Morris: Public Relations ManagerMark Gretter: Program Director, Jr. Suns/Jr. MercuryAnjelica Giardino: Program Assistant, Jr. Suns/Jr. MercuryStephanie Clarke: Community Relations ManagerCassidy Kersten: Community Relations AssistantTom Chambers, Connie Hawkins: Community RepresentativesKip Helt: Director of Game OperationsPaul Smith: Mascot CoordinatorBob Woolf: Gorilla TrainerMaggie Garcia: Dance Team CoordinatorShaun Stanhibel: Game Operations CoordinatorRob Hart: Suns Vision ProducerHap Hopper: Electronic Graphics ProducerKevin Bonham: Electronic Graphics Coordinator

Marketing CommunicationsRay Artigue: Sr. Vice President, Marketing CommunicationsJeramie McPeek: Senior Director of PublishingJosh Greene, Steven Koek: Publishing CoordinatorsNiki Adams: Director of Advertising and Sales PromotionsBonnie Meadows: Executive Assistant to Sr. Vice President

Business DevelopmentJohn Walker: Sr. Vice President, Business DevelopmentEyal Mintz: Director of CRM SystemsJenna Corday: Director of e-Commerce and Consumer Marketing

Creative ServicesAngela Woods: Senior Graphics ManagerMarta Quiban: Senior Projects ManagerJoe Montalbano, Tami Rodgers, Leah Staten: Graphic Designers

Phoenix Suns CharitiesTom Ambrose: Sr. Vice President, Exec. Director, Phoenix Suns Charities

Glenna Martinez: Administrative Assistant

Suns ProductionsDan Siekmann: Director of Broadcasting, Suns TelevisionBob Adlhoch: Producer/Director, Suns TelevisionMarc Goldberg, David Hughes, Jason Lewis: ProducersDavid Grapentine: Sr. VideographerRichard Mendez: VideographerTommy Arguelles, Steve Miller: Sports EditorsMark Chance: General Manager, Downtown Digital Post

TelevisionUPN 45: Tom Leander, Play-by-Play; Eddie Johnson, Dan Majerle, Color

FSN Arizona (Cable): Gary Bender, Play-by-Play; Eddie Johnson, Dan Majerle, Color

RadioKTAR 620 AM: Al McCoy, Play-by-Play; Vinny Del Negro, Tim Kempton, Color

KSUN 1400 AM (Spanish): Gerardo Romo, Play-by-Play; Arturo Ochoa, Color

LegalMelissa Flores: Paralegal

Information ServicesWilliam Bolt: Vice President, Information ServicesGreg Gleason: Information Services ManagerMichael McDonald: Information Services TechnicianMichelle Butler: Administrative Assistant/Desk Dispatcher

FinanceJon Phillips: Vice President, Finance Kel Hansen: Phoenix Arena Sports ControllerSheila Guy: Director of Payroll ServicesBridget Black: Assistant ControllerDebbie Gelvin: Accounts Receivable ManagerLynn Balzer: Accounts ReceivableEileen Bernatawicz: Senior Payroll SpecialistSandra Vega: Accounting ClerkSandra Valencia: Accounts Payable ClerkKatrina Chavez: Staff AccountantTerry Garza, Anna Heffron: Payroll SpecialistsMichele Vujs: Payroll Tax Accountant

America West Arena

Arena OperationsAlvan Adams: Vice President, Facility ManagementGeorge Bevans: Vice President, Security & Risk ManagementRuss Amaral: Vice President, Event ServicesCathey Moses: Vice President of MarketingRalph Marchetta: Vice President of EntertainmentVicki Berryman: Director of TelecommunicationsBrian Wiley: Director of EngineeringOscar McLaurin: Director of Building ServicesDavid Mitchell: Director of PurchasingJon Bloom: Director of SecurityJim Bochenek: Director of Event OperationsPam Greenfield: Facilities ControllerTanya Hammond: Suns Event CoordinatorKurt Kleinknecht: Guest Services ManagerMark Rudometkin: Traffic Support Service ManagerAlbert Halle: Traffic Event CoordinatorBrian Proud: Marketing ManagerTrina Ypsilanti: Marketing CoordinatorDavid Case: Mail Room ManagerGerri Sandy: Executive Assistant/Office ManagerChristine Gaintner: Executive Assistant

Sales & TicketsDrew Cloud: Vice President, Sales & ServiceBrett Wojtulewicz: Sr. Director of Ticket Operations and SalesJeff Marcussen: Suns Ticket ManagerMike Tomon: Director of Season Sales & ServiceMike Dunham, Matt Fitzgerald, Corey Breton, Mark Wieser:Suns Season Sales Account Executives

Bill Fagan, Greg Abdouch: Roadrunners Season Sales AccountExecutives

Lisa Kowalewski, Lucas Joyce: Mercury Season Sales AccountExecutives

Jeff Ianello: Inside Sales ManagerRyan Harris, Marc Jackson, Karlis Kezbers, Stephanie Henkel,Scott Smith, Harper Homes, Nick Norton, Vincent Castillo,Rachel Nourse, Alan Latkovic: Inside Sales Consultants

Kristen Leonard, Craig Sheppard, Jen Howland, Kyle Hudson,Angie Brown: Account Experience Specialists

Geoff Budoff: Director of Premium Seat SalesScott Worden: Director of Group Sales Jeremy Walls: Group Sales ManagerAllison Black, Dain Howell: Group Sales CoordinatorsMarivi Cuartin: Suns Multi-Cultural Market SpecialistRuss Terao: Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury Sales & Service CoordinatorJamille Hand, Claudia Steer: Mercury Group Sales CoordinatorsDan Berman: SES/Dodge Group Sales ManagerNicki Bowen, Meagan Lassen, Grant Lunde: SES/Dodge GroupSales Coordinators

Connie Rohrman: Director of Ticket OperationsEsther Aparicio: Season Ticket Account ManagerPaulene Tullie: Ticket Accounting SupervisorRoseann Murphy: Accounting ClerkDaniel Serna, Richard Lahaie: Assistant Ticket ManagersKandus Mayberry: Administrative AssistantJan Forshee: Receptionist

Suite ServicesCharlene Sprehe: Sr. Director of Suite Services Chris Montgomery: Director of Premium Seat ServicesTrent Dutry: Senior Event ManagerDonald Jones: Assistant Event ManagerGrant Conway: Suite Sales ManagerHolly MacLeod: Suite Ticket ManagerMichael Pettit: Suite Services Account Representative

Human ResourcesPeter Wong: Vice President, Human ResourcesKaren Rausch: Director, Human ResourcesJoric McLean: Benefits ManagerJonathan Tellez: Employment ManagerJessica Reed: Employment & Benefits CoordinatorMary Martinez: Administrative Assistant

Basketball CommunicationsGame Night Personnel

Barry Gossage, Norm Hall: NBA Photos

Statistical CrewJerry Heck: Official ScorerFred Ciarico: Official TimerDon Hawthorne: 24-Second Clock OperatorRick Showers: Scoreboard OperatorRon Amstutz, Jeff Hosterman, Brian Hill, Mike Lange: Statistics CrewEric Hodgson, Jeff Stanlis, Jim Brewer: Broadcast Statisticians

Marcy Cookman: Press Room HostAshley Alexander, Jana Alexander: Family Room Attendants

Game Night AssistantsSue Laskovsky, David Leshner, Vincent Crawford

Other Information

Home Court: America West Arena (18,422), opened 1992Address: 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004Single-game prices: Weekday - $300-$1,550 (floor seats),$102.50 (club seats), $137.50, $120.00, $107.50, $82.50,$72.50, $57.50, $45, $40, $35, $28, $10; Premium - $400-$1,600 (floor seats), $107.50 (club seats), $142.50, $125.00,$112.50, $87.50, $77.50, $62.50, $50, $45, $40, $33, $10

Game Times: 7 p.m., 6 p.m. on Sundays (most games)Team Colors: Purple, Orange & BlackPhoenix Suns Ticket Office: (602) 379-7867Phoenix Suns Executive Office: (602) 379-7900Phoenix Suns Executive Office FAX: (602) 379-7990Phoenix Suns Basketball Communications: (602) 379-7920Phoenix Suns Basketball Communications FAX: (602) 379-7908America West Arena Executive Office: (602) 379-2000Web Site Address: www.Suns.com

TeamDirectoryTeamDirectory

98

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Throughout his storied career as a sports executive, Jerry Colangelo has succeeded with a unique combinationof know-how both on the basketball court and on the business side of the operation. That savvy and experienceis what makes him one of the top executives in professional sports.

Colangelo, who has been the face of the Suns franchise since their inaugural season in 1968, unveiled a planfor the Suns future that included the sale of the team for an NBA record $401 million in April 2004. Banking andreal estate executive Robert Sarver, an Arizona native, became the major investor and managing partner of thenew ownership group that will purchase the Suns over a three-year span. Colangelo will remain as CEO andChairman until the sale of the team is complete in June 2007, and then will retain the title of chairman for atleast another five years beyond 2007.

Colangelo’s impact on the sports scene in Phoenix and the game of basketball has been so great he was electedto the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2004 and enshrined on Sept. 10, 2004 in Springfield,Mass., the birthplace of basketball. Locally, The Arizona Republic named him the Most Influential Sports Figure inthe state of Arizona for the 20th century and the Phoenix Business Journal voted him the top businessperson inthe Valley for the last five years. Nationally, Colangelo has been among The Sporting News most powerful peoplein sports for over the last decade and he was appointed to the newly-created position of Managing Director ofthe USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team program for the 2005-2008 quadrennium in April 2005.

Since first moving to the Valley of the Sun in 1968 to take over the expansion Phoenix NBA franchise as theyoungest general manager in professional sports, Colangelo has molded the Phoenix Suns into one of the mostsuccessful organizations -- on and off the court -- in the NBA. In addition, he brought Major League Baseball to theValley in 1998 and was chairman of the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Colangelo also was the keyelement in facilitating the move of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets to the Valley of the Sun to become the Phoenix Coyotes.

Currently the Chairman of the NBA’s Board of Governor, Colangelo has had influence on the growth of the NBAas a member of the league’s Finance Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, Expansion Committee andCompetition and Rules Committee. Commissioner David Stern turned to Colangelo to chair a special group in the2000-01 season that evaluated the state of the game and made rules modifications. Colangelo was also the chairof the committee that welcomed Toronto and Vancouver to the NBA and chair of the relocation committeecharged with the Charlotte Hornets move to New Orleans. In 2003, he helped bring an NBA franchise back to thecity of Charlotte, which was awarded the NBA’s 30th franchise, the expansion Bobcats, that began play in the2004-05 season.

“Jerry Colangelo has been involved in every aspect of our business and is universally accepted as theprincipal basketball expert among our Board of Governors,” Stern said.

With the Suns, his roles have included general manager, head coach, president and now chairman and chiefexecutive officer. The 37-year tenure with one franchise is the second longest in the NBA, behind only Boston’sRed Auerbach, who has been an NBA fixture since the league's inception in 1946. Colangelo spent two seasonswith the Chicago Bulls working as marketing director, scout and assistant to the president before moving to theValley to help start the expansion Suns.

Phoenix owns the fourth-best all-time winning percentage with a 1,644-1,358 (.548) mark, trailing only theLakers (.616, 2,761-1,722), Boston (.596, 2,737-1,856) and San Antonio (.585, 1,372-974). Colangelo hascollected an unprecedented four NBA Executive of the Year awards (1993, ’89, ’81, ’76). During that period theSuns enjoyed seven consecutive 50-plus win seasons from 1988 to 1995, including a franchise-best 62 wins in1992-93 and a trip to the 1993 NBA Finals.

On two occasions Colangelo stepped in to coach the Suns, including the 1969-70 season when he guided theclub to a 24-20 mark down the stretch and to its first playoff appearance. He also took over in 1972-73 andcompiled a 35-40 mark. Overall, Colangelo is 59-60 as an NBA coach.

The state of the franchise was in question in 1987 but Colangelo stepped up and coordinated a group ofinvestors that purchased the club for $44.5 million on October 14, 1987. That transaction was the first of manythat helped Colangelo not only stabilize the basketball organization but also transform downtown Phoenix intoan active and thriving district.

Colangelo quickly moved on a new arena for the Suns and in April 1989 the city of Phoenix approved theconcept of a new, state-of-the-art arena in downtown that would house the team. The 18,422-seat America WestArena opened in June 1992 and became the first venue in the NBA to also house a full-size practice facility, anamenity now common in the league. The arena is a public-private partnership with the City of Phoenix and hasplayed host to a wide variety of concerts, family shows and sporting events, including the 1995 NBA All-StarGame and the 2000 WNBA All-Star Game.

JerryColangeloPhoenix SunsChairman and CEO

America West Arena has recently undergone a $70 million renovation that includes the addition of anentertainment paseo, the Casino Arizona Pavilion, and new LED, scoreboard and sound system.

Colangelo added to his NBA involvement with a position on the founding committee for the WNBA, helpingadvance professional women's basketball in the United States. The Phoenix Mercury were one of the WNBA'sinaugural teams in 1997. The Mercury set a league attendance record in their first season, advanced to the 1998WNBA Finals and qualified for the playoffs three times.

When a group targeted Major League Baseball as a possibility for the Valley, Colangelo was asked to becomethe lead player in securing a team for Phoenix. That bid was successful in 1995 and shortly thereafter Bank OneBallpark broke ground in downtown Phoenix in a public-private partnership with Maricopa County.

As with the NBA, Colangelo was involved with the governing of baseball, serving on the Legislative Committee,Equal Opportunity Committee and on the board of directors of the MLB Advanced Media, the technology arm ofthe league.

The Arizona Diamondbacks began play in 1998 and captured the 2001 World Series in a historic seven-gameseries against the three-time defending champion New York Yankees. Going from expansion team to WorldChampion in just four years was a record for Major League Baseball. Arizona won the National League West injust its second season to become the fastest expansion team in baseball history to qualify for the postseason,just as the Suns did in their second season in 1969-70.

Just down the street from the sports facilities, the Dodge Theater opened in April 2002 and hosts a variety ofevents from concerts to Broadway plays, including boxing, family shows and corporate events. This $35 milliondowntown venue has the versatility to expand its capacity to as large as 5,000 or scale down to an intimate3,000 and is another project spearheaded by Colangelo.

Colangelo’s commitment to the Valley transcends sports and he is well-known as one of the city’s most activecommunity leaders. In recognition of his efforts in the community, Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon recentlyproclaimed March 26, 2004, Jerry Colangelo Day in the city of Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun United Way alsobestowed its highest honor, the Spirit of Caring award, to Colangelo on June 30, 2005 for his passion forimproving lives in the community.

He is currently chairman of the board of the Council of Leadership Education and Collaboration for a NewCentury, Southwest Leadership Foundation, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and LeadershipFoundations of America, trustee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, national board member of NationalItalian American Foundation and Young Life International, vice president of the Phoenix Downtown Partnership,chairman and CEO of Phoenix Community Alliance and was a leader in the establishment of Employers AgainstDomestic Violence.

Colangelo has served on the board of directors of the Phoenix Art Museum, Greater Phoenix Economic Council,Athletes in Action and Phoenix Suns Charities. He is a lifetime member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, anorganization dedicated to the promotion of Phoenix through sports. In addition, he is past chairman of ArizonaState University’s Dean’s Council of 100 and the Honor Board for Junior Achievement of Central Arizona, servedas president of Valley Big Brothers, and was chairman of the board of the Christian Businessmen’s Club. Ascampaign chair for United Way in 1994, Colangelo raised the standard for community fundraising when hesecured pledges for $25 million.

The author of a book titled How You Play the Game,Colangelo gives insight into the world of the business ofsports and his own life. Proceeds of the book sales went toYoung Life of Arizona, Phoenix Suns Charities and ArizonaDiamondbacks Charities.

Colangelo prepped at Bloom Township High in ChicagoHeights, Ill., where he was an All-State basketball honoreeas a senior. A left-hander, Colangelo was the top pitcher onthe baseball team that also featured former Yankee hurlerJim Bouton. Upon graduation he had 66 scholarship offersfor college basketball and seven for professional baseballcontracts.

He enrolled at the University of Kansas, but transferredafter his prospective teammate, Wilt Chamberlain, left theJayhawks for a pro contract. Colangelo transferred to theUniversity of Illinois, where he earned All-Big Ten honors,captained the Illini as a senior and was later inducted intothe Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. He also played twoyears of baseball at Illinois.

Born November 20, 1939, Colangelo grew up in the“Hungry Hill” neighborhood of Chicago Heights. His ties to“The Heights” and Bloom Township are evident in the JerryColangelo Gymnasium, dedicated in his honor November 10,1996, and Colangelo Way, a street named after him. Currentlyunder construction in Chicago is the Colangelo Center thatwill house the Italian-American Athletic Hall of Fame.

Colangelo and his wife, Joan, whom he met on a blinddate while at the University of Illinois, have four children:Kathy Holcombe, Kristen Brubaker, Bryan, and Mandie, andsix granddaughters and four grandsons, all of Phoenix.

JerryColangeloPhoenix SunsChairman and CEO

1110

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Success has followed Arizona native Robert G. Sarver in every stage of his career and his golden touchextended to his first season with the Phoenix Suns.

The self-made entrepreneur embarked on another challenge as the new majority owner of the Phoenix Sunsin 2004-05 and the Suns enjoyed unparalleled success as the club tied a franchise record with an NBA-best 62wins and posted the third-greatest turnaround in league history.

The banking and real estate executive spearheaded an investment group that purchased the Suns, the oldestprofessional sports franchise in the Valley, for an NBA record $401 million on June 30, 2004.

Sarver, 43, who became the youngest person ever to found a national bank at the age of 23, grew up a Sunsfan and attended games as a youth at Veterans Memorial Coliseum after receiving tickets as birthday gifts fromDonald Diamond, one of the original owners (Richard Bloch and Donald Pitt).

Sarver’s friendly and down-to-earth demeanor has helped him close numerous deals in the banking and realestate industry. He is currently chairman and CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation, one of the fastestgrowing bank holding companies in the country. He is also the founder of Southwest Value Partners (SVP); areal estate investment company that has acquired four million square feet of commercial office space, 3,500apartments, 700 hotel rooms, shopping centers, commercial mortgages and over 2,000 acres of land in the last15 years.

A 1979 graduate of Sabino High School in Tucson, Sarver spent the first 35 years of his life in Arizona beforemoving to San Diego and has demonstrated a commitment to community and philanthropic contributions.Sarver and his wife recently donated $1 million to help build the Phoenix Family Museum, which will becompleted in May 2007. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Japanese American National Museum.

Sarver sits on the Board of Trustees of the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona, which he helpedbuild, in memory of his late father, Jack, who was among the first in an experimental group to undergo bypasssurgery. The center now houses over 40 physicians and researchers dedicated to fighting heart disease.

Introduced to the banking industry at 16, he worked part time at the end of his school day as a mortgageloan agent and internal auditor at American Savings for his late father, a well-known banker and hotel owner. A 1982 graduate of the University of Arizona, Sarver earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration,and became a certified public accountant in 1983.

After founding the National Bank of Arizona in 1984, Sarver served as president until its sale to the ZionsBancorporation in 1994. Prior to the sale, National Bank of Arizona had become the largest independent bankin the state.

In 1995, Sarver led a group of investors in acquiring Grossmont Bank, San Diego’s largest community bank.He was the Chairman and CEO of the holding company before its sale to the Zions Bancorporation in 1998.

Sarver led Zions’ acquisition of Sumitomo Bank of California and merged the company with Grossmont,renaming it California Bank and Trust, and became the Chairman and CEO in 1998. In 2002, he sold CaliforniaBank and Trust back to Zions.

He currently serves as director of SkyWest Airlines and is director of Meritage Corporation, which he is also amajor shareholder. The Phoenix-based Meritage is one of the largest homebuilders in the country spanning sixstates (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Texas).

A lifelong sports fan, Sarver’s quest to purchase an NBA team began with a conversation with University ofArizona basketball coach Lute Olson, a friend of Sarver’s since 1980. Olson referred Sarver to Steve Kerr, aformer player at Arizona and a 15-year NBA veteran, to assist him in buying an NBA franchise.

Sarver has a 9 handicap in golf and plays tennis and volleyball in his spare time. During his first date withhis eventual wife, Penny Sanders, he invited her to watch the NCAA Basketball Tournament at his house.

He and his wife, a Kansas City, Mo. native, have three boys: Max (7), Jake (6) and Zach (4).

RobertSarverManaging Partner

RobertSarverManaging Partner

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., Sam Garvin completed his bachelor of arts degree with a dual major inpolitical science and german studies at the University of Pittsburgh in three years. After serving in the Reaganadministration as a staff assistant on the Presidential Commission for the German-American Tri-Centennial, hebegan working for Heinz U.S.A. as a sales merchandiser where he learned the marketing of packaged goodsfrom the ground up. In 1988 when he was 24, he graduated from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School ofInternational Management, with a Masters of International Management specializing in marketing. After a shortstint at a promotion fulfillment firm, he started CPG from the trunk of his car, borrowing from credit cards toget seed money. In 1989 he became a Suns fan by purchasing single game tickets in the upper bowl from afriend and continued coming to Suns games at every opportunity over the next sixteen years.

From 1989 until 2005 Sam served as Chairman and CEO of Continental Promotion Group. During his tenurehe grew the company from zero to over $1.2 billon in gross revenues, managed over 1200 associates, andopened substantial new markets internationally including Canada, Mexico, The European Union, Australia, andSingapore. Sam organized and executed consumer and trade promotions for Dell, Nestle, Henkel, Costco, BT(British Telecom), HP, Motorola, Disney and Eli Lilly on a global scale. In 1998 Sam was recognized by thePhoenix Business Journal as one of Arizona’s “Top 40 under 40” most influential business leaders under the ageof 40. In 1999 he was recognized by Arizona Governor Jane Hull with the “Governor’s Spirit of Success” award.He was twice nominated for Ernst and Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award. In June 2005 he successfullysold CPG in a management led buyout.

In 2003, Mr. Garvin was awarded a Doctor of International Law degree (Honoris Causa) from Thunderbird,the American Graduate School of International Management. He is currently a member of the Board of Trusteesat Thunderbird and is a trustee at Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS). In June 2004, Mr. Garvin purchased hisinterest in the Phoenix Suns and currently serves on the Executive Management Board of the Phoenix Suns.Other boards he serves on include Phoenix Suns Charities, and AliLaur LLC. Sam has a keen interest in venturecapital and is a limited partner in several Sequoia Capital funds. He also is active in real estate and privateequity investing through Garvin Holdings, LLC. He resides in Paradise Valley with his wife Rita and threechildren. Sam can be reached at sgarvin@suns.com.

SamGarvinVice Chairman

SamGarvinVice Chairman

13

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

12

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Bryan Colangelo, who enters his seventh season as the Suns president and 11th as general manager, wasnamed The Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year after the Suns completed the third-greatest turnaround inNBA history while winning the Pacific Division Championship in 2004-05.

Colangelo, 40, built the Suns through a series of forward-thinking moves, beginning with the controversialtrade of All-Star Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway to New York on January 5, 2004 creating the cap spacenecessary to sign eventual NBA MVP Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson, among others. Under the direction ofthe 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni, the new-look Suns finished a league-best 62-20 last seasonafter posting a 29-53 record in 2003-04.

The 17-year Suns executive is part of the new ownership group that purchased the Suns on June 30, 2004and he oversees all basketball operations of the NBA franchise. He is also part of the six-member managementcommittee that governs the club, in addition to his duties as an alternate governor on the NBA’s Board ofGovernors. Colangelo, who represents the Suns on the NBA’s Competition Committee, previously held thepositions of scout, assistant director of player personnel, and vice president/assistant general manager with theSuns, where he was directly involved in all aspects of player personnel, including evaluation, draft selectionand transactions. He has also served as tournament director of the NIKE Desert Classic, an annual collegeAll-Star basketball tournament held in Phoenix, from 1993 through 2001.

During Colangelo’s tenure as general manager, the Suns have appeared in the NBA Playoffs eight of the last 10seasons while posting an overall record of 439-349 (.557). Through various trades and free-agent moves, Colangelohas brought some of the league’s best and most recognizable players to the Suns including All-NBA/All-StarsTom Gugliotta, Hardaway, Jason Kidd, Marbury and Antonio McDyess. Colangelo and his staff have landed theteam top-flight players like Shawn Marion, Amaré Stoudemire, Michael Finley and Nash via the draft.

In May 2005, Colangelo was named to the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Program Advisory Panelcharged with selecting teams for the 2006 FIBA World Championship (Saitama, Japan), 2007 FIBA AmericasOlympic Qualifying Tournament (TBA) and the 2008 Olympics (Beijing, China). This appointment follows afour-year commitment to the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Committee from 2001 through 2005,where he helped select teams for the 2001 Goodwill Games (Brisbane, Australia), the 2002 World Championshipof Basketball (Indianapolis, Indiana), the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (San Juan,Puerto Rico) and the 2004 Olympics (Athens, Greece).

Colangelo’s accomplishments and influence in sports and business were recognized nationally when he wasnamed to the “40 Under 40” most influential group by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal in 2000. Closerto home, he was selected the top business leader under 40 by the Phoenix Business Journal in 1999 and theDowntown Phoenix Partnership presented him with the Unsung Hero Award in 1997.

In addition to his responsibilities with the Suns, Colangelo served as president of Phoenix Arena Sports(PAS), the owning entity of the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football League) and the operating entity of thePhoenix Mercury (WNBA) from June 1991 through June 2002. He managed the business administration, teamoperations and marketing sales of the Rattlers, Mercury and other exhibition events including tennis, hockey,indoor soccer, boxing and volleyball. Highlights of his involvement with PAS include the 1997 and 1994 (thestate of Arizona’s first) World Championship campaigns of the Rattlers, setting the league attendance mark withthe Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA’s inaugural season, overseeing the Mercury’s run into the 1998 WNBA Finalsand his selection as the AFL’s 1993 Executive of the Year. The Rattlers also won the AFL Commissioner’s Awardas the top franchise on and off the field for an unprecedented five straight years from 1996 to 2000.

A 1983 graduate of Central High in Phoenix, Colangelo remains active in the community serving on theboard of directors of the Arizona Zoological Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and PhoenixSuns Charities. He recently completed posts on the board of directors of the Arizona Sports Council (GrandCanyon State Games), Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Phoenix Art Museum and he has served as co-chair ofthe annual Black Family and Child Services dinner. Appointed by former Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza in 1999,Colangelo recently completed a three-year term as an executive committee member and vice chairman of theGreater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC).

A 1987 graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science degree in business management andapplied economics, Colangelo and his wife Barbara are parents of a son, Mattia and a daughter, Sofia.

BryanColangeloPresident andGeneral Manager

BryanColangeloPresident andGeneral Manager

As president and chief operating officer, Rick Welts supervises all business operations of the Phoenix Sunsand oversees the club’s interests in Phoenix Arena Development, managing company of America West Arena,and Phoenix Arena Sports, owning entity of the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) and Phoenix Roadrunners (East CoastHockey League). He enters his fourth season with the organization.

Welts served successful stints previously in professional basketball with the NBA league office and theSeattle SuperSonics. His association with the NBA office spanned from 1982-99 until he departed as theleague’s executive vice president, chief marketing officer and president of NBA Properties. Welts helped guidethe revitalization of the league and its image through strong marketing initiated by the NBA and he is creditedwith the creation of the NBA All-Star Weekend concept in 1984, now a league highlight and a standard in boththe National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. He was also responsible for the 1992 Olympics “DreamTeam” marketing program as the agent for USA Basketball. In 1998, Brandweek magazine named Welts“Marketer of the Year” for his role in creating and launching the WNBA. It was an honor he shared with formerWNBA President Val Ackerman.

During his tenure at the NBA office Welts supervised league departments including corporate sponsorshipand media sales, consumer products, media relations, community relations, team services, special events,creative services, and retail including the NBA Store and the “NBA City” restaurant. He was also responsible forthe NBA’s international business activities, from placing preseason games in foreign countries to opening theleague’s first international office in Australia to supervising six regional offices and 75 international employeesin Asia, Europe, Australia, Mexico and Canada.

Recruited in 1982 by David Stern, then the NBA’s executive vice president for business and legal affairs,Welts joined the NBA as director of national promotions for NBA Properties (NBAP). He established thecorporate sponsorship department for the league and in 1983 was named vice president of marketing, NBAP.When Stern became NBA commissioner in February 1984, he promoted Welts to vice president, marketing andcommunications. Four years later he was promoted again to president of NBA Properties, responsible forvirtually all the league’s off-court revenue businesses and marketing activities. He added the title of NBAexecutive vice president & chief marketing officer in 1996.

Welts entered the world of the NBA in 1969 as a ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics. He remained with theSonics for 10 years in several different capacities, including director of public relations during Seattle’s back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals and the club’s lone NBA Championship in 1979.

Following his stint with the Sonics he moved in 1979 to Bob Walsh & Associates, one of the first sportsmarketing firms in the United States. As vice president, he was involved in creating the first sports subscriptioncable service (Sonics SuperChannel) as well as representing athletes in the NBA, MLB and NFL.

Welts left the NBA in June 1999 to become president of Fox Sports Enterprises, a new entity that managedFox interests in facilities and sports teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium, STAPLES Center,the Los Angeles Kings, Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

In June 2001 along with two partners, Casey Wasserman and Gary Stevenson, Welts became a partner in asports consulting firm, ONSPORT. Prior to that start-up venture he served as president for one year of “First InLine,” a joint venture between USA Network’s TicketMaster & SFX.

A native of Seattle, Welts attended the University of Washington.

RickWeltsPresident andChief Operating Officer

RickWeltsPresident andChief Operating Officer

15

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

14

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Jim Pitman

Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration

Jim Pitman is in his seventh season as executive vice president of finance andadministration, overseeing all accounting, finance, legal, information systems, andinsurance aspects of the organization. The Suns’ NBA finance chief also assists withsalary cap and player contract management, and is part of the newly-formed six-membermanagement committee governing the club.

Pitman also oversees all financial aspects of the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) andPhoenix Roadrunners (ECHL), as well as the operations of Downtown Digital Post (in-

house production company) and Team Shops (retail merchandising stores).Pitman serves as treasurer of Phoenix Suns Charities and is a board member of the America West Airlines

Education Foundation and the Valley of the Sun YMCA. Coming to the Suns in 1992 as assistant controller, he moved up to corporate controller and vice president

of finance before his most recent promotion. Prior to the Suns, he spent nearly five years in the audit divisionof the Phoenix office of Arthur Andersen with client responsibility in the professional sports, hospitality, andwholesale distribution industries.

A native of Rio, Ill., Pitman is a 1987 graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned a degree inaccountancy.

Pitman and his wife Linda live in Phoenix. He has two children, Amy (12) and Kyle (10) and lists basketball,softball and golf as his favorite out-of-office activities.

Harvey Shank

Senior Executive Vice President

Harvey Shank enters his 35th season with the Suns and his first as senior executive vicepresident following eight seasons as senior vice president of corporate sales and 11 yearsas vice president of marketing. Responsible for selling radio and television advertisingpackages, along with signage packages in the 18,422-seat America West Arena, Shank waselevated to vice president in 1987 after eight seasons as director of marketing. He beganwith the Suns prior to the 1971-72 season as assistant sales and promotions manager.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Shank is a 1968 graduate of Stanford University with apolitical science degree. He pitched four years in the California Angels organization.

An avid nature photographer, Shank had one of his pictures featured on the cover of a national publication,Nature Photographer magazine. In addition, he enjoys golf and sports a four-handicap.

Shank was married in 1988 to his wife, Maryse. His son, Jon, played baseball at Stanford. Shank is anadvisor on the Fresh Start Men’s Board and active in Living Streams Christian Church.

Dick Van Arsdale

Senior Executive Vice President

Dick Van Arsdale has been with the club since its inception in 1968. “The Original Sun”served as a player, television commentator, head coach and now enters his secondseason as senior executive vice president after seven seasons as senior vice president ofplayer personnel and five years as vice president of player personnel.

A Suns color analyst for 15 years, Van Arsdale was named vice president of basketballoperations in 1987. He was interim head coach for the final 26 games of the 1986-87season and led Phoenix to 12 wins in the final 15 games and a 14-12 mark.

Van Arsdale, an NBA All-Rookie pick in 1965, was the Suns’ first selection in the 1968 NBA Expansion Draftfrom New York. He scored the first point in Suns history and finished with 12,060 points in nine seasons as a Sun.In 12 NBA seasons, Van Arsdale played in three All-Star Games and totaled 15,079 points. His Suns jersey (5)was retired on Nov. 13, 1977, against Indiana.

“Van” and his twin, Tom, shared Mr. Basketball honors as seniors at Manual High in Indianapolis and bothwere All-Americans at Indiana University. He and wife Barbara are parents of Jill and Jason, and have threegrandchildren, Will, Lucy and Sofia.

Lynn Agnello

Senior Vice President, Marketing Partnerships

Lynn Agnello enters her fifth season with the Phoenix Suns as the senior vice presidentof marketing partnerships. Responsible for managing the partnership sales department,Agnello supervises a team of 12, which includes account executives as well as thepartnership activation specialists who service the sponsorship partner’s contracts.Agnello’s primary responsibility is generating revenue through selling partnershippackages which include radio, TV, cable, print, website, signage and promotional elements.

In 1989, Agnello moved to Phoenix from Miami, Florida where she specialized in broadcast media and sales.Prior to her position at the Suns, she spent 10 years as the national sales manager for various top radio stationsand cable networks.

Agnello currently serves on the board of directors for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and Phoenix SunsCharities. In her limited spare time, she enjoys ice-skating with her son and reading. Born and raised in Goshen,Indiana, Agnello graduated from Indiana University in 1983 where she earned a degree in telecommunicationsand business. Agnello and her husband, Michael, reside in Phoenix with their son, Dominick.

Tom Ambrose

Senior Vice President,

Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charities

Tom Ambrose celebrates his 33rd season with the Suns, with his current assignment assenior vice president and executive director of Phoenix Suns Charities.

Ambrose joined the Suns in 1973 as public relations director, serving as the club’sprimary media liaison for 15 seasons before becoming vice president in 1987. Following 11

years as vice president of public relations, he spent six seasons as senior vice president of public affairs. In 1996,Ambrose was honored with the Splaver/McHugh “Tribute to Excellence” Award, presented by the NBA PublicRelations Directors Association (NBA PRDA) to a team PR director who demonstrates the finest characteristics ofthe profession during his career.

Ambrose, a 27-year member of the Public Relations Society of America, was founder and first president of theNBA PRDA, authoring its code of ethics. He was instrumental in the founding of Phoenix Suns Charities, the teamfoundation established to raise funds for non-profit organizations that serve youth in the areas of education,health and human services, the arts, sports and recreation.

Ambrose initiated the Suns’ Fastbreak Magazine in 1988 and in 1992, he co-authored the book, A SilverAnniversary Celebration of the Phoenix Suns. Voted the Western Conference’s top public relations director in 1983,Ambrose also won a regional Emmy for his work on the Suns’ 1981-82 highlight film, “The Dream Season.” In theyear 2000, Ambrose was honored as a “Leader of Distinction” by the Anti-Defamation League, received the JesseOwens Award from the Phoenix Memorial Hospital Foundation and was named “Sports Executive of the Year” bythe Phoenix Chapter of the March of Dimes. In 2004, he was honored as the Non-Medical Volunteer of the Year bythe Pacific/Mountain affiliate of the American Heart Association.

He is involved in many community organizations including the Arizona Chapter of the Partnership for a DrugFree America; the Men’s Anti-Violence Network (M.A.N); the Phoenix Zoo; the American Heart Association; theCommunity Care Connections; the Drugs Don’t Work in Arizona program and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., Ambrose graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1970. He and wife, Alice,have one daughter, Casey (29), and a grandson, Logan.

Ray Artigue

Senior Vice President, Marketing CommunicationsAn Arizona native, Ray Artigue joined the Suns in 1991 and is in his seventh season

as senior vice president of marketing communications. Artigue directs the marketingdepartment that is responsible for research and strategic planning, advertising, publicrelations, community relations, ticket sales and all fan loyalty and customer serviceinitiatives for the Suns.

Prior to his marketing responsibilities, Artigue served eight years as general managerof S.R.O. Communications, the Suns’ former in-house advertising and public relations agency. S.R.O providedmarketing and public relations services for the Suns, Arizona Rattlers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Mercury,America West Arena, Bank One Ballpark and numerous outside clients.

In 1987, he founded Evans/Artigue Public Relations, which grew into one of the Valley’s largest PR agencies.A graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Artigue was inducted into theschool’s Hall of Fame. A member of the Public Relations Society of America Counselors Academy, he wonP.R.S.A.’s 1991 PERCY award for career achievement and was named 1994 Advertising Person of the Year by thePhoenix Ad Club. He co-authored a college textbook, Public Relations Campaigns and Tactics: Building BridgesInto the 21st Century, and has taught in both the Sports Business MBA program and the Cronkite School at ASU.

A former Big Chief (president) of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, Artigue chaired the 1999 Phoenix Open. Heenjoys spending time with wife, Martha, and their two children: Jessica (21) and Joseph (14). In 2002, acollection of his poems and short stories were published in his latest book, Longings of the Heart.

1716

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Al McCoy

Senior Vice President, Broadcasting

When Al McCoy first hit the air on September 27, 1972, Valley fans had somethingspecial. From “Shazam” to “zing go the strings” to “heartbreak hotel,” McCoy hascultivated an unparalleled style.

He enters his 34th season with the Suns and will call play-by-play action on KTARRadio and the Suns radio network. McCoy’s term with the Suns is the longest with oneteam among current NBA broadcasters.

In 2005, Phoenix Magazine named McCoy the best play-by-play announcer in their annual “Best of theValley” issue for the seventh consecutive year. He’s the only broadcaster to win the award since it debuted in1999. McCoy was honored with a Silver Circle Award from the Arizona chapter of the National Academy ofTelevision Arts & Sciences and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Museum of Broadcasting. Healso became the first play-by-play announcer to be inducted into Arizona Broadcasters Association Hall of Fameon Oct. 19, 2004.

McCoy’s broadcasting career began in 1951 at KJFJ Radio in Webster City, Iowa. In 1958, he arrived in Arizonato do play-by-play for the Triple-A Phoenix Giants baseball club. He has also covered Phoenix Roadrunnershockey, Arizona State football and basketball and filled in as a backup for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A native of Williams, Iowa, McCoy received his degree in drama-speech from Drake University and performedgraduate work at the University of Iowa. In 1994, McCoy received Drake’s Alumni Achievement Award.

He and wife Georgia, a Valley artist, have three sons: Mike, and twins Jay and Jerry. A culinary critic, he isthe club’s expert on gourmet restaurants around the league. McCoy is an accomplished jazz pianist as well.

Tom O’Malley

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Tom O'Malley is in his seventh season with the Suns as the chief legal officer for theNBA club as well as the organization's other entities, the Phoenix Mercury, ArizonaRattlers, Phoenix Roadrunners, America West Arena and Team Shops.

O'Malley worked for the law firm Fennemore Craig and represented businesses in allfacets of commercial law. While with the firm Gallagher and Kennedy he assisted in thedrafting of documents for Bank One Ballpark and also worked on cases related to

trademark infringement, fraud and breach of contract. O'Malley was a founder of Insight Computers, growing thecompany from five employees to multi-million dollars in sales in four years.

O'Malley graduated from University of Kansas in 1987 before attending University of Arizona Law School. Heand his wife Laura are parents of Erin (9) and Tara (8).

John Walker

Senior Vice President, Business Development

John Walker begins his sixth season with the Suns organization, his third as vicepresident of business development. He is responsible for ticket operations, ticket sales,suite sales and customer retention programs, as well as all customer relationshipmanagement (CRM) initiatives for the Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Rattlers, PhoenixRoadrunners, America West Arena and Dodge Theatre.

Walker joined the organization as vice president of ticket operations and sales in2000, and has been involved in the development of new premium seating concepts for the Suns including theloge boxes and courtside club seats. In addition, he directed the launch of Downtown Live, a monthly e-newsletter promoting events for the entire organization.

He has 19 years of experience in the ticket sales and operations industry, including stints with the Kansas CityRoyals (MLB) and the University of Oklahoma, where he received his masters’ degree in sports management in 1995.

A native of Morgantown, W.V., Walker graduated from West Virginia University in 1986. He and his wifeNedda have two daughters - Brandi (10) and Brooke (5).

Julie Fie

Vice President, Basketball Communications

Julie Fie, a senior member of the NBA’s public relations community, serves as theclub’s primary liaison between the media and the team’s players and management for allbasketball communications. Fie and her staff are responsible for media interviews andrequests and the dissemination of information locally, nationally and internationally.That includes news conferences, press releases, game night press accommodations andcredentialing, the production of media guides, game notes, and statistics.

A member of the NBA Public Relations Advisory Board, Fie joined the Suns in 1992, the same season theSuns won a league-best 62 games en route to the NBA Finals and a Charles Barkley MVP trophy. The 2004-05season was almost a duplicate year with a NBA-best 62 wins and Steve Nash MVP. Fie was promoted to hercurrent position in July 1998.

Originally joining the NBA with the Kansas City Kings in 1981 as assistant public relations director, Fie waselevated to director the following season and remained with the club as the franchise relocated to Sacramentoin 1985. She remained there until joining the Suns.

A communications graduate from Iowa State University, Fie spent two years as an undergraduate with theISU sports information department. She is a native of Jefferson, Iowa.

Robert Harris

Vice President, Public Relations & Community Relations

Robert Harris enters his 14th season with the Suns, his eighth as vice president. He is responsible for four departments, including public relations, community relations,game operations and recreational basketball.

Active in the community, Harris is a member of The Thunderbirds, as well as amember of the board of directors of the Life Teen Program, Suns Nite Hoops and CoxCharities. He also serves on the advisory board for HomeBase Youth Services.

Harris joined the Suns in 1992 as community relations director, following three years with the Phoenix-based public affairs firm Nelson, Robb, DuVal and DeMenna. After earning a degree in political science in 1989from Arizona State University, Harris interned for Senator John McCain in Washington, D.C.

Born in Chicago, Harris moved to Arizona where he attended Brophy College Preparatory.

Phoenix Suns Front Office Staff

Ruth DryjanskiAssistant to the Chairman

Jacque AlonzoAssistant to the President

and General Manager

Gloria Santa CruzAssistant to the Presidentand Chief Operating Officer

Ceola CoastonAdministrative Assistant

Debbie VillaAssistant to Basketball

Operations Staff

DC HeadleyBasketball Communications

Manager

Dustin KrugelBasketball Communications

Manager

Sherry ReedAsst. to the Vice PresidentBasketball Communications

Donald DangmukStaff Assistant

Rosie EsquiviasAssistant to the ExecutiveV.P. and General Counsel

Exec

utiv

e St

aff

Bask

etba

ll Co

mm

unic

atio

ns

1918

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Phoenix Suns Front Office Staff

Jamie MorrisPublic Relations

Manager

Connie HawkinsCommunity Representative

Barry GossageTeam Photographer

Tom ChambersCommunity Representative

Stephanie ClarkeCommunity Relations

Manager

Cassidy KerstenCommunity Relations

Assistant

Mark GretterProgram Director

Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury

Anjelica GiardinoProgram Assistant

Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury

Michael WandellAccount Executive

Marketing Partnerships

Carlissa HenryAccount Executive

Marketing Partnerships

Megan MontgomeryPartnership

Activation Specialist

Angela YockSr. Partnership

Activation Specialist

Paul SmithMascot Coordinator

Kip HeltDirector of Game Operations

Maggie GarciaDance Team Coordinator

Shaun StanhibelGame Operations

Coordinator

Rob HartSuns Vision Producer

Hap HopperElectronic Graphics Producer

Kevin BonhamElectronic Graphics

Coordinator

Matthew WrightSr. Account ExecutiveMarketing Partnerships

Glenna MartinezAdministrative AssistantPhoenix Suns Charities

Phoenix Suns Front Office Staff

Angela WoodsSenior Graphics Manager

Marta QuibanSenior Projects Manager

John OlsonDirector of

Archive Services

Jason LewisProducer

Dan SiekmannDirector of Broadcasting

Suns TV

Bob AdlhochProducer/Director Suns TV

David HughesProducer

Richard MendezVideographer

David GrapentineSenior Videographer

Jeramie McPeekSenior Director of Publishing

Steven KoekPublishing Coordinator

Josh GreenePublishing Coordinator

Niki AdamsDirector of Advertising and Sales Promotions

Bonnie MeadowsAssistant to the Senior VicePresident Marketing Comm.

William BoltVice President,

Information Services

Greg GleasonInformation Services

Manager

Michael McDonaldInformation Services

Technician

Michelle ButlerAdministrative Assistant/

Desk Dispatcher

Melissa FloresParalegal

Marc GoldbergProducer

Joe MontalbanoGraphic Designer

Rebecca MontesPartnership

Activation Specialist

Benicia Martin-SorgeMedia Traffic ManagerMarketing Partnerships

Leah StatenGraphic Designer

Tami RodgersGraphic Designer

Connie WallenAssistant to the Sr. V.P.,Marketing Partnerships

Rachel ReinsmosenPartnership

Activation Specialist

Devney PreussPartnership

Activation Specialist

Jon PhillipsVice President, Finance

Com

mun

ity

Rela

tion

s

NBA

Pho

tos

Phoe

nix

Suns

Cha

riti

es

Publ

ic R

elat

ions

Gam

e Op

erat

ions

Mar

keti

ng P

artn

ersh

ips

Mar

keti

ng C

omm

unic

atio

nsCr

eati

ve S

ervi

ces

Arch

ive

Serv

ices

Suns

Pro

duct

ions

Info

rmat

ion

Serv

ices

Lega

l

Fina

nce

2120

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Phoenix Suns Front Office Staff

Kel HansenPAS Controller

Lynn BalzerAccounts Receivable

Sheila GuyDirector of Payroll Services

Debbie GelvinAccounts Receivable

Manager

Anna HeffronPayroll Specialist

Sandra ValenciaAccounts Payable Clerk

Michele VujsPayroll Tax Accountant

Eileen BernatawiczSenior Payroll Specialist

Bridget BlackAssistant Controller

Terry GarzaPayroll Specialist

Drew CloudVice PresidentSales & Service

Eyal MintzDirector of CRM Systems

Jenna CordayDirector of e-Commerce and

Consumer Marketing

Jeff MarcussenSuns Ticket Manager

Brett WojtulewiczSenior Director of Ticket

Operations and Sales

Grant ConwaySuite Sales Manager

Geoff BudoffDirector

Premium Seat Sales

Scott WordenDirector

Group Sales

Jeremy WallsGroup Sales Manager

Mike TomonDirector of Season

Sales & Service

Mike DunhamAccount ExecutiveSuns Season Sales

Matt FitzgeraldAccount ExecutiveSuns Season Sales

Corey BretonAccount ExecutiveSuns Season Sales

Mark WeiserAccount ExecutiveSuns Season Sales

Russ TeraoJr. Suns/Jr. Mercury

Sales & Service Coordinator

Charlene SpreheSr. Director of Suite Services

Craig SheppardAccount Experience

Specialist

Jen HowlandAccount Experience

Specialist

Kyle HudsonAccount Experience

Specialist

Angie BrownAccount Experience

Specialist

Trent DutrySenior Event Manager

Phoenix Suns/America West Arena Staff

Allison BlackGroup Sales Coordinator

Dain HowellGroup Sales Coordinator

Marivi CuartinSuns Multi-Cultural Market

Specialist

Jeff IanelloInside Sales Manager

Kristen LeonardAccount Experience

Specialist

Jan ForsheeReceptionist

Donald JonesAssistant Event Manager

Holly MacLeodSuite Ticket Manager

Michael PettitSuite Services Account

Representative

Paige PetersonPresident and GM

Sports and EntertainmentServices

Alvan AdamsVice President

Facility Management

George BevansVice President, Security and

Risk Management

Russ AmaralVice President,Event Services

Ralph MarchettaVice President ofEntertainment

Chris MontgomeryDirector of

Premium Seat Services

Gerri SandyExecutive Assistant

Brian WileyDirector of Engineering

Jon BloomDirector of Security

Cathey MosesVice President of Marketing

Sale

s an

d Ti

cket

s

Busi

ness

Dev

elop

men

t

Suit

e Se

rvic

es

Aren

a Op

erat

ions

Fina

nce

23

Per

sonnel

22

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

America West Arena/Downtown Digital Post Staff/Phoenix Mercury

Mark ChanceGeneral Manager,

Downtown Digital Post

Susan UlrichDirector of Sales and Marketing

Roger DunnChief Engineer

Dave GugelAssistant Chief Engineer

Robbie RobinsonVideo Engineer

Barbi HarnerSenior Editor

Dan DavisEditor

Brad ThompsonEditor

Kim LimonTraffic Manager

Diana LumbTraffic Coordinator

Jennifer YoungOffice Manager

Vicky ArseneauAdministrative Assistant

David MitchellDirector of Purchasing

Vicki BerrymanDirector of

Telecommunications

Kathy LauxTelecommunications

Coordinator

Tanya HammondSuns Event Coordinator

Jim BochenekDirector of Event Operations

Kurt KleinknechtGuest Services Manager

Peter WongVice President

Human Resources

Karen RauschDirector of

Human Resources

David CaseMail Room Manager

It was an amazing season by the Phoenix Suns Gorilla in 2004-2005. In late 2004, he was recognized as the Best Mascot in Sportsby Gameops.com. Then in August 2005, The Gorilla was inductedinto the inaugural class of the Mascot Hall of Fame. Both weretremendous accomplishments, and were a true reflection of not onlywhat The Gorilla means to the Suns on the court, but also what hemeans off the court.

The Gorilla continued his great work throughout the community.From charity walks to meet and greets, The Gorilla performed tonearly 200 local, national and international appearances and morethan 50 Suns games last season. Some involve The Gorilla’s twogreat programs, one is a reading program called “Book The Gorilla.”The other is an anti-tobacco program which teaches children not touse tobacco products. To schedule an appearance please contact hiscoordinator at 602.379.7917.

His on the court antics continued again, when he became thefirst mascot to do a ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jump during anin-game timeout. The Gorilla is the first mascot to dunk a ball at anofficial NBA game, ride a motorcycle on court, use videotaped skits,dunk off a replica 25 ft. Empire State Building, and dunk from the3-pt. line by using a catapult. Stay tuned to what The Gorilla isgoing to do next because you don’t want to miss it.

The

GorillaPosition: C. G. O. (Chief Gorilla Officer)

Height: 5’ Ape”

Weight: 350 (All muscle)

Years Pro: 25 (Gorilla years – 54)

High School: Hairy Truman (Mon-Key West, FL)

College: Fur-man University ’80

Acquired: Signed as a flea agent in 1980

TheGorilla

SunsDanceTeam

SunsDanceTeamTop Row: Abby, Gina,Brooke, Amy Jo

Next Row: Emily,Janice, Ryan, Dani

On Knees: Taryn,Melissa, Uyen,Vanessa, Stefanie

Floor: Serene, Kayla

Pam GreenfieldFacilities Controller

Hum

an R

esou

rces

Mai

l Cen

ter

Dow

ntow

n Di

gita

l Pos

t

2524

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

Suns Broadcasting

Gary Bender, FSN Arizona Play-by-PlayGary Bender is in his 13th season handling play-by-play duties for Suns home game

telecasts. A native of Ulysses, Kan., Bender spent three seasons with Turner Sports on weekly NBA

coverage and Sunday Night NFL telecasts, and covered the 2004 NBA Playoffs for TurnerSports. He will also call play-by-play for ESPN college football telecasts this fall and hasdone play-by-play on ABC and CBS Sports for the NBA, Major League Baseball and collegefootball and basketball. Other highlights include working the Masters Golf Tournament, Pan

American Games, World University Games and 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. After graduating from Wichita State in 1962, he earned a master’s in television/film from Kansas and

covered Jayhawk sports from 1967-69. Bender spent the next six seasons as voice of the Green Bay Packerswhile covering University of Wisconsin sports. He also served for two years as the radio play-by-play voice ofthe Chicago Bears and handled play-by-play duties for the St. Louis Rams for four seasons.

Bender and wife Linda have been married for 42 years and have two sons: Trey and Brett. In 1994, hereleased his book, Call of the Game: What Really Happens in the Broadcast Booth.

Vinny Del Negro, KTAR 620 AM Radio Color AnalystTwelve-season NBA veteran and Suns alumnist Vinny Del Negro enters his third year in

the broadcast booth for the Suns, and his second as a color analyst for KTAR radio. Prior to joining the Suns’ broadcast team, Del Negro worked as an analyst for ESPN’s

NBA Matchup program and the San Antonio Spurs.Del Negro played for five NBA teams (Phoenix, Golden State, Milwaukee, San Antonio,

Sacramento), averaging 9.1 points and 3.2 assists in 771 career games. He was originallyselected in the second round (29th overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft after playing four

seasons at North Carolina State under coach Jim Valvano. Del Negro played his first two seasons with the Kingsbefore turning down an NBA contract offer to play for Italian club Benetton Treviso. He returned to the Statesin 1992 to play for the Spurs and concluded his NBA career appearing in 38 games with the Suns from 2000-02.

Born in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball and the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Del Negrowas awarded his own locker at the HOF in 2001. He is married to Lynn, whom he met at North Carolina State.

Eddie Johnson, UPN 45 and FSN Arizona Color AnalystA familiar face and voice returns as Eddie Johnson enters his sixth season as a color

analyst for the team’s television broadcasts. For the second consecutive year, he will workalongside both Tom Leander and Gary Bender on the team’s UPN 45 and FSN Arizona telecasts.

A 17-year NBA veteran, Johnson served as the color analyst on the Phoenix Mercurytelevision broadcasts in 1997 and 1998 and provided analysis for ESPN Radio during theWNBA playoffs, including the Mercury's run to the WNBA Championship Game in 1998.

He also served as a guest analyst for NBA Showtime on NBC during the 2000 NBA Playoffsand as a color analyst for Arizona State men's basketball broadcasts on Fox Sports Net in 1999-00.

Johnson has the distinction of being the NBA’s all-time leading scorer among players with no All-Starappearances with 19,202 points, an average of 16.0 points per game. One of the NBA’s best pure jump shooters,“E.J.” shot .472 from the field and .840 from the foul line while playing for Kansas City/Sacramento, Phoenix,Seattle, Charlotte, Indiana, Denver and Houston.

Originally a second-round pick (No. 29) by the Kansas City Kings in 1981, Johnson spent six years in theKings organization before he was traded to Phoenix on June 21, 1987 for Ed Pinckney and a second-round pick.The University of Illinois graduate played three-plus seasons for the Suns from 1987-90. In the 1988-89campaign he averaged 21.5 points (third highest scoring average of career) and shot .497 from the field as hehelped Phoenix improve to a 55-27 record from 28-54 the previous season.

The Chicago native has maintained a Phoenix residence since his Suns playing days and is the President ofJJJ Sports, which conducts basketball clinics and produces instructional videos (www.jumpshotclub.com). He isalso the President and co-founder of Teamfone.com (www.teamfone.com), a communications company thatcaters to groups and organizations. He and his wife Joy have a son Justin (16) and daughter Jade (13).

Tim Kempton, KTAR 620 AM Radio Color AnalystTim Kempton, a former role player on the 1992-93 Suns team that won a franchise-

record 62 games and advanced to the 1993 NBA Finals, will provide color analysis for KTARRadio for the third year in a row and will share duties with Vinny Del Negro.

The former Notre Dame University graduate was selected in the sixth round of the 1986NBA Draft by the L.A. Clippers and averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 280 careergames in eight seasons with the Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Denver, Phoenix, Cleveland,Atlanta, San Antonio and Toronto.

Kempton, who played his last season in the NBA in 1997-98, was previously part owner of the PhoenixEclipse from the ABA in 2001-02 and served as color analyst covering the Phoenix Mercury and Arizona StateUniversity’s men’s basketball.

Suns Broadcasting

Tom Leander, UPN 45 Play-by-Play, FSN Arizona Pre-Game HostOnce a ballboy for the Phoenix Suns (1976-78), Tom Leander has been a fixture on the

local sports broadcasting scene for over a decade. After moving from the studio to thebroadcast booth in 2003, Leander begins his third season as the Suns’ play-by-playbroadcaster for all Suns games televised on UPN 45 and is a pre-game host for all FSNArizona telecasts.

Beginning in 1993, Leander served as studio host/producer of the Suns Gametime andSuns Halftime Shows for UPN 45. From 2000-03, he held the same responsibilities for the

Suns Pre-game, Halftime and Post-game shows on Cox 9. He also hosted the franchise’s weekly magazine show,Suns Jam Session, on UPN 45 for one season (2002-03).

In addition to his studio work, Leander has amassed an abundance of television play-by-play experiencethat includes eight seasons with the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, six seasons with the WNBA’sPhoenix Mercury, two seasons with the Continental Indoor Soccer League’s Arizona Sandsharks and six seasonsof backup duties for Suns games on Cox 9.

Leander began his broadcasting career at his alma mater, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles,where he did three seasons of radio play-by-play for the school’s men’s basketball team. Leander’s broadcastexperience also includes stints as a sportscaster for KMST-TV in Monterery, Calif. (1986-88) and KOLD-TV inTucson (1988-91) as well as KTSP-TV and KNXV-TV of Phoenix.

A graduate of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Leander and his wife Sandy have three children:Lauren, Keaton and Bryson.

Dan Majerle, UPN 45 and FSN Arizona Color AnalystOne of the most popular players in franchise history, Dan Majerle, returns to the

organization for his second season as a broadcaster, providing color commentary for theteam’s UPN 45 and FSN Arizona telecasts. “Thunder Dan” will again share duties withformer teammate Eddie Johnson.

In 2003-04, he served as a color analyst for ESPN and ABC Network. He made hisbroadcast debut in 2002-03 working for TNT during the 2003 NBA Playoffs.

Originally selected by the Suns in the first round (14th overall) of the 1988 NBA Draftafter a standout career at Central Michigan, Majerle soon emerged as a fan favorite because of his tremendouswork ethic. He played 14 NBA seasons including his first seven seasons (1988-95) in the Valley of the Sun,averaging 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists, before he was traded to Cleveland on Oct. 7, 1995. Afterone year with the Cavaliers, Majerle signed as a free agent with Miami and played five seasons under headcoach Pat Riley before concluding his career as a Sun in 2001-02. Majerle was inducted into the Suns Ring ofHonor on March 9, 2003.

Majerle ranks sixth in NBA history with 1,360 made three-pointers. The Suns’ all-time leading three-pointshooter, Majerle sank his 800th trey of his Suns career on his final shot with 25.3 seconds left vs. Dallas onApril 17, 2002 in the season finale. He set the NBA Finals record with 17 three-pointers made in a seriesagainst Chicago in 1993. A three-time All-Star (1992, 1993, 1995), the 6-6 swingman became the first reserveto be voted to start on an All-Star team in 1995 when Phoenix hosted the event. In 2005, Majerle teamed withSuns All-Star Shawn Marion and WNBA Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi to win the RadioShack ShootingStars competition on All-Star Saturday in Denver, Colo.

The Traverse City, Mich. native has four children Madison, McKenzie, Mia and Max.

Arturo Ochoa, KSUN 1400 AM Spanish Radio Color AnalystArturo Gerardo, a native of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico will provide color analysis for all 41

Suns home games for the second consecutive season, and his third overall, on SpanishRadio KSUN 1400 AM.

The Northern Interamericana University graduate made his broadcasting debut for KSUNradio covering the Phoenix Suns in 2000-01 and was a member of Univision’s World Seriesteam during Arizona Diamondbacks title run in 2001. He currently is part of theDiamonbacks broadcasting team on KSUN radio.

Gerardo Romo, KSUN 1400 AM Spanish Radio Play-by-PlayGerardo “Jerry” Romo, a native of Douglas, Arizona, will provide play-by-play for all 41

Suns home games for the second consecutive season on Spanish Radio KSUN 1400 AM.Romo, who attended both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, earned

a broadcasting degree from ASU in 2003. He is also a reporter and associate producer forArizona Diamondbacks Playin' Hardball and a part-time Diamondbacks play-by-playannouncer and analyst on Spanish radio KSUN.

27

Per

sonnel

26

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I NP

erso

nnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

MikeD’AntoniHeadCoach

MikeD’AntoniHeadCoach

Mike D’Antoni’s (dan-TONE-ee) passion for basketball has given him an up-close view of the world and his lovefor the sport has taken him from the mountains of West Virginia to the professional ranks of the NBA and ABA,and across Italy and throughout Europe. Those attributes helped make him the 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year.

In his first full season as head coach of the Suns, D’Antoni engineered the third-largest turnaround in NBAhistory last season, and directed the Suns to a club record-tying 62 wins, a remarkable 33-game improvementover the 2003-04 season.

D’Antoni, who is the second coach in team history to be honored as NBA Coach of the Year (Cotton Fitzsimmons,1988-89), boldly decided to stick with a run-and-gun lineup that featured no true center and an All-Star smallforward (Shawn Marion) playing out of position at power forward. The experiment paid off almost instantly asthe Suns raced out to a 31-4 start and finished with the most explosive offense in the last decade as the Sunsbecame the first NBA team since 1994-95 to average over 110 points per game (110.4). Furthermore, the team’s16.2 point increase from the 2003-04 season (94.2), ranked as the NBA’s largest increase in team scoring sincethe advent of the shot clock in 1954-55.

Long regarded as an excellent teacher and communicator, D’Antoni was named the franchise’s 12th headcoach in team history on Dec. 10, 2003 after replacing Frank Johnson in midseason. In his first season as headcoach of the Suns, D’Antoni guided the NBA’s youngest roster to a 21-40 mark, despite inheriting a completelyoverhauled roster due to several midseason trades and a team riddled with injuries. D’Antoni, who came to theSuns with a reputation of being an offensive guru, installed an up-tempo style of play as the Suns increasedtheir scoring by more than three points per game after the coaching change.

D’Antoni’s resume includes over three decades of pro basketball experience as a player, coach, front officeexecutive and scout in the NBA, ABA and the Italian League. This is the second NBA head coaching stint forD’Antoni, who served as head coach for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA shortened-lockout 1998-99 season andwas the club’s director of player personnel in 1997-98. He was also on the bench for Portland as an assistantcoach under Mike Dunleavy in the 2000-01 season and was a scout for San Antonio during the 1999-00campaign. In addition, D’Antoni was an analyst for NBA.com following the 1998-99 regular season. He alsoworked as an analyst for the pay-per-view broadcasts of Team USA throughout the 2003 FIBA Americas Men’sOlympic Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Prior to joining the Suns staff on June 25, 2002 as the lead assistant coach, D'Antoni coached BenettonTreviso of the Italian League and led the club to the Italian League championship after a 28-8 season in 2001-02. His team included former Sun Charlie Bell, ex-NBA player Tyus Edney and 2002 NBA top 15 draftees NikolozTskitishvili (fifth to Denver) and Bostjan Nachbar (15th to Houston).

An Italian League legend, D’Antoni also coached Benetton from 1994-97 when his team captured the Cup ofEurope and Cup of Italy in 1995 and won the league title in 1996-97 after a 22-4 regular season. Prior to that heguided Philips Milan for four seasons from 1990-94 and led the club to the 1993 Korac Cup. During his Italiantenure D’Antoni led his teams to the playoffs each season and was twice voted the league’s Coach of the Year.

D’Antoni – a dual citizen of the United States and Italy – was an All-NBA Rookie Second Team choice in1974 after the Kansas City-Omaha Kings selected him with the 20th pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He playedtwo-plus seasons for the Kings, where he was a roommate of current Sacramento Kings Head Coach RickAdelman, before joining the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis and NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.

After just two games with the Spurs in November 1976, D’Antoni moved to Italy where he played 13 seasonsfor Milan and became the club’s all-time leading scorer. In 1978, he tried out for the Chicago Bulls, but optedto remain in Italy, where he stayed until he was lured by the Nuggets to return to the NBA in 1997. He wasvoted the league’s top point guard of all time in 1990 and he paced his team to five Italian League titles, twoCups of Europe, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Intercontinental Cup. He was also selected to play onthe Italian national team for the European Championships in 1989 and was a part of the Milan team thatcompeted in the inaugural McDonald’s Open in 1987.

Fluent in English and Italian, he has co-authored two books: Playmaker, with former Milan head coach DanPeterson, and Vivendo Giacando, with Italian sportswriter Tullio Lauro.

Born on May 8, 1951, the Mullens, West Virginia native played collegiately at Marshall University and graduatedas the school’s career assist leader in 1973. His father, Lewis, was a legendary high school basketball coach inWest Virginia and Ohio, and was inducted into West Virginia’s Sports Hall of Fame in May 2004. His brother, Dan,was recently added to the Suns assistant coaching staff and is a former 30-year high school basketball coach inMyrtle, South Carolina. D’Antoni and his wife Laurel, whom he met in Milan, Italy, have one son, Michael (11).

Marc Iavaroni

Assistant Coach

A 15-year veteran of the NBA as a player or coach, Marc Iavaroni returns for his fourthseason as the lead assistant coach for the Suns.

Previously, he served as assistant coach/director of player development under MiamiPresident/Head Coach Pat Riley from 1999-2002. Iavaroni’s responsibilities consisted ofall general duties of an assistant coach plus the direct responsibility of developing Heatplayers year round. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach under then Cleveland Head

Coach Mike Fratello for two seasons (1997-99), concentrating his efforts on big man development.Iavaroni owes much of his teaching expertise to his 21-year association as a student and instructor under

Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell.A seven-year NBA veteran from 1982-1989, Iavaroni played for Philadelphia, San Antonio and Utah. He was

a starter as a rookie on the 76ers’ 1983 World Championship team, voted one of the 10 best NBA teams ofall-time. In 1984-85, he played for San Antonio and then-head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons before completinghis final three seasons with the Jazz, who won the Midwest Division in 1989.

Iavaroni concluded his professional career alongside current Suns Head Coach Mike D’Antoni in Milan beforeretiring in 1991. Iavaroni played professional overseas for five seasons in Italy and Spain, including threeseasons after his college career and two seasons following his NBA career.

His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, University of Virginia, helpingthe Cavaliers to their first Final Four team in 1981. Following his professional playing career, Iavaroni was anassistant coach at Bowling Green State for two seasons from 1992-94.

As a collegian, Iavaroni was a four-year starter and finished in 1978 ranked in Virginia’s top 10 in careerscoring and rebounding. He gained first team All-Tournament honors on Virginia’s 1976 ACC Tournamentchampionship team, an accomplishment he still considers among his most satisfying playing achievements.

Born in Jamaica, N.Y., Iavaroni and his wife Caroline have three sons, Kenton, McCray and Jackson.

Alvin Gentry

Assistant Coach

Alvin Gentry, a 26-year coaching veteran, 17 in the NBA, returns for his second seasonwith Phoenix. A three-time NBA head coach at Miami, Detroit and L.A. Clippers, Gentryhas also been an assistant coach for 12 seasons, nine years under the trio of Larry Brown,Kevin Loughery and Doug Collins, who have combined for over 1,700 NBA victories.

Prior to the Suns, Gentry served as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornetsin 2003-04. As a head coach, Gentry led the Clippers to an 89-133 mark (.401) from

2000-03. In 2001-02, in his second season as the Clippers’ head coach, Gentry guided the Clippers to 39-43record, the team’s highest win total since 1992-93, and their mark of 31-51 in 2000-01 represented a 16-winimprovement over the 1999-00 season.

The 50-year-old also spent five seasons (1995-00) with the Detroit Pistons, including the first two and ahalf seasons as an assistant under Doug Collins. He took over for Collins on Feb. 2, 1998 and registered a 73-72(.503) record from 1997-2000.

Gentry received his first head opportunity with the Miami Heat, taking over as interim head coach for KevinLoughery on Feb. 14, 1995, and finishing the season with a record of 15-21 (.417). He had served as anassistant with the Heat from 1991-95. His first NBA coaching job came with the San Antonio Spurs, where hespent the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons as an assistant coach under Larry Brown. Gentry then moved to theClippers for one season as an assistant under Mike Schuler.

Gentry began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Colorado during the 1977-78season. After one year working in private business, he returned to the bench when he received his first full-time collegiate assistant coaching job at Baylor in 1980. Gentry then returned to Colorado as an assistantcoach from 1981-85.

Gentry moved on to the University of Kansas as an assistant under then Head Coach Larry Brown from1985-88, and helped lead the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA Championship before leaving with Brown for theSpurs prior to the start of the 1988-89 season.

He played point guard at Appalachian State for coaching legends: Press Maravich, the father of “Pistol Pete”and former Georgia Tech Head Coach Bobby Cremins. After graduation in 1977, his cousin, former NBA All-StarDavid “Skywalker” Thompson, got him a tryout with the Denver Nuggets and although he didn’t make the cut, hemade an impression on Brown, who eventually hired him as an assistant coach with the Jayhawks and Spurs.

Gentry and his wife Suzanne have two children, Ryan Marcus (8) and Matthew Jackson (5). He also has onedaughter, Alexis (21).

CoachingStaffCoachingStaff

29

Per

sonnel

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

28

Phil Weber

Assistant Coach

Phil Weber begins his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Suns afterjoining the staff in September 1999, his first professional coaching position. He has on-the-floor and bench duties with a specialty in skill and player development.

For four years prior to the Suns, he helped develop NBA players such as Shawn Marion,Baron Davis, Jalen Rose and Pat Garrity while in Los Angeles. Weber has partnered withformer NBA player and Denver General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe to form an academy for

NBA player development in Los Angeles.Weber’s coaching career began at the University of Florida in 1984 under Head Coach Norm Sloan. Weber was

with the Gators for five seasons, helping the team to its first Southeastern Conference title in 1989 and to theSweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 1987.

From there, he spent one year traveling around the country to observe 16 different major college programsbefore spending one season as an assistant coach at Chaminade University in Hawaii. He was on the coachingstaff at Iona College from 1991-95.

A native of Northport, N.Y., Weber helped Long Island Lutheran High School to a state title before playingcollegiately at North Carolina State for Sloan and Jimmy Valvano. Weber redshirted during the Wolfpack’s 1982-83NCAA title season.

Dan D’Antoni

Assistant Coach

Dan D’Antoni (dan-TONE-ee), the older brother of 2004-05 NBA Coach of the YearMike D’Antoni and a 30-year South Carolina high school basketball coach, begins hisfirst season as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns.

The elder D’Antoni accumulated over 500 wins as head coach of Socastee High Schoolin Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a position he had held since 1975. His club regularlyadvanced in postseason play, including a trip to the 1998 state championship, when the

Braves lost to South Aiken by one point on a layup with four-tenths of a second left.The 58-year-old is the founder of the Beach Ball Classic, one of the most prestigious high school basketball

tournaments in the country that has helped launch the careers of NBA All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant,Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace and 2005 NBA draftee Raymond Felton (5th overall toCharlotte) since its debut in 1981.

The Mullens, West Virginia native was a point guard at Marshall University and as a senior in 1969-70, heserved as the head coach of the Thundering Herd’s freshman team that included brother Mike D’Antoni, andagain in 1970-71 as an assistant coach for the varsity team. After a tryout with the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets,D’Antoni began to work on other endeavors in 1971 before returning to coaching full-time in 1975.

Basketball is a way of life for the D’Antoni family. In addition to brother Mike, father Lewis was a legendaryhigh school basketball coach in West Virginia and Ohio, and was inducted into West Virginia’s Sports Hall ofFame in May 2004. Dan is also the father of three sons, who all played collegiate basketball: Matt, 28, playedat Brown University; Andrew, 25, attended West Point Academy and is now serving in Iraq as a lieutenant in theUnited States Army; Nick, 23, just completed his senior season at William and Mary, where he was the captainof the basketball team. Dan and his wife Vanessa have a daughter, Morgan.

Todd Quinter

Assistant Coach/NBA Scout

Now in his 20th season with the Suns and 14th as NBA scout, Todd Quinter serves asthe club’s advance scout and aids the coaching staff in their game preparation forupcoming opponents.

Quinter joined the organization in 1986 as a video coordinator and currently workswith the Suns’ staff in preparation for the annual NBA Draft, training Camp and theSuns’ summer league participation. In addition, he served as basketball coordinator of

the NIKE Desert Classic pre-draft camp from 1996-2000. “TQ” played at Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pa.) where he broke three school assists records and was

twice named team Most Valuable Player. In 1997, he was inducted into the Lebanon Valley College Athletic Hallof Fame.

Born in Nazareth, Pa., home of the world famous racing Andretti family. Quinter and his wife Kim have fourchildren, Tessa (6), Olivia (9), Jake (11) and Adam (20), who played two seasons of basketball at MesaCommunity College. In the offseason the family enjoys spending time in Colorado and at the beach with theirtwo dogs Romey and Julliet. Quinter is a cousin to singer Glenn Frey of the Eagles.

Aaron Nelson

Head Athletic Trainer

Aaron Nelson enters his sixth season as the athletic trainer, only the second in teamhistory after replacing Suns Ring of Honor member Joe Proski in July 2000. When hiredhe was the second-youngest head athletic trainer in the NBA.

Included in his role are the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of players andassisting in the travel operation of the team. Under his direction new equipment hasbeen added to assist the medical operation, including new modalities for treatment of

injuries and a Swim-Ex hydrotherapy pool.Prior to his promotion, Nelson served as the Suns’ assistant athletic trainer, a position he held since 1993. Nelson is certified and licensed as an athletic trainer, performance enhancement specialist (PES) and certified

as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association(NATA), Arizona Athletic Trainers Association (AZATA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and NationalStrength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA).

Following graduation from Iowa State University in December 1992, Nelson spent the spring 1993 semesteras a graduate assistant at Arizona State University. While an undergraduate, he was a student athletic trainerfor four years under NATA Hall of Famer Frank Randall. He earned a bachelor of science degree in physicaleducation with an emphasis on athletic training and a minor in health. Nelson, who is a member of thePerformance Advisory Board for the National Academy of Sports Medicine, received a masters in exercise science(injury prevention and performance enhancement) from California University at Pennsylvania in 2004.

In the summer of 2004, Nelson completed a two-week volunteer internship with the United States OlympicCommittee (USOC) in the sports medicine department at the Olympic training facility in Chula Vista, Calif.,working primarily with track and field and paralympic athletes.

Nelson is a native of Manning, Iowa, and is the brother-in-law of former Suns guard Jeff Hornacek.

Erik Phillips

Assistant Athletic Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coach

Erik Phillips enters his second season with the Suns organization and is responsiblefor all aspects of the Suns players’ strength and conditioning needs and assists HeadAthletic Trainer Aaron Nelson with daily recognition, care and treatment of team-relatedmedical issues.

Phillips joined the Suns in 2004 after six years with the Denver Nuggets, includingthe last five as the assistant athletic trainer and practice facility manager. He started

with the Nuggets organization as an intern for the training staff during the 1998-99 campaign and assisted theNHL’s Colorado Avalanche during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with minor league call-up players from 1999-02.

In addition to his duties with the Nuggets, Phillips served as an athletic trainer at the NBA Pre-Draft Campin Chicago from 2000-04 and was an athletic trainer at the Pete Newell Big Man Camp for two summers.

He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Arizona Athletic Trainers Association(AZATA) and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Additionally, he is certified as a performanceenhancement specialist and received a master’s degree in injury prevention and performance enhancement fromCalifornia University of Pennsylvania in 2005.

A 1998 graduate of Colorado State University, Phillips served as a student athletic trainer for four years atCSU, working with the men’s basketball, football, track and softball squads. Phillips was a three-year varsityletter winner for Rams’ track and cross country teams and participated in the WAC championships each yearbetween 1993-96. He has a son, Joseph (3).

Mark West

Assistant General Manager, Player DevelopmentOne of the most popular Phoenix Suns on the court moved into the front office in 2001

and now Mark West is entering his fifth season as assistant general manager. West’s dutiesthis season will expand as he takes on more specific player development initiatives.

In his role, West works with team President and General Manager Bryan Colangeloand carries out a range of duties focusing on the business of basketball, player relationsand development and community representation. As part of his new responsibilities, he

will also serve as the team liaison for the NBA Player Development program administered by the league.West, who has been a licensed stockbroker since 1992, was a member of the Suns from 1988-94 and then

again in the 1999-2000 season. He is currently second in NBA history in field goal percentage (.580), trailingonly Artis Gilmore’s .599 rate, and West led the NBA in shooting in 1989-90 when he shot .625 from the field.

West came to the Suns with Kevin Johnson in a trade with Cleveland on Feb. 25, 1988 and Phoenix had a335-180 (.650) record from 1988-89 to 1993-94 with at least 53 victories in each season and a run to the 1993NBA Finals.

Born in Fort Campbell, Ky., West graduated from Old Dominion in 1983 with a degree in finance. He and hiswife Elaina have two sons, Markus (9) and Markyle (7).

30

Per

sonnel

M A K I N G B A S K E T B A L L F U N A G A I N

David Griffin

Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel

A dedicated employee for 12 years, David Griffin was elevated to assistant generalmanager, player personnel in August 2005. He aids President and General Manager BryanColangelo and Senior Executive Vice President Dick Van Arsdale with professional playermatters and serves as an evaluator of college, high school and international prospects.His duties include player evaluation for the draft, free agency and other player transactions.

Prior to his moving into the player personnel in 2001, Griffin served four seasons inbasketball operations where he helped with draft and free agency information, video preparation and scoutingreports and statistical analysis. Additionally, he served as tournament director for the NIKE Desert Classic pre-draft camp. He also served as an assistant coach at Scottsdale Community College where he led the recruitingof five players that played Division I.

Griffin joined the basketball communications department in 1993 and helped the club’s media relationsefforts for four seasons. He was also part of the media information team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Griffin is married to the former Meredith Hale. He graduated from Arizona State in 1995 with a degree inpolitical science.

John Shumate

College Scout

A former Suns player and Phoenix Mercury head coach, John Shumate rejoined theSuns staff in his second stint as a college scout midway through the 2003-04 season.

Originally Phoenix’s first-round pick (fourth overall) in 1974 NBA, Shumate wasnamed NBA All-Rookie in 1975. During his seven-year career, he averaged 12.3 points,7.5 rebounds with the Suns, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston and San Antonio.

Shumate was a college scout for the Suns for two seasons (2000-02) beforeaccepting the WNBA’s Mercury head coaching position on Oct. 23, 2002 after 17 years of coaching at NotreDame, Grand Canyon College (now Grand Canyon State), Southern Methodist University and the NBA’s TorontoRaptors. He guided the Mercury to an 8-26 record in one season in 2003.

Prior to re-joining the Suns in 1998-99 as a community relations representative, Shumate was an assistantcoach for the Raptors for three seasons, providing on-the-floor coaching, advance and college scouting, andhelping develop players such as Marcus Camby and Damon Stoudamire.

Following his playing career, he got into coaching in 1981 as an assistant coach at Notre Dame under DiggerPhelps. After two seasons with the Fighting Irish, he became head coach at Grand Canyon University for threeseasons. Shumate returned to Notre Dame as an assistant coach for two seasons before he was named headcoach at Southern Methodist University in 1988. He led the Mustangs for seven seasons, including an NCAATournament berth and Southwest Conference title in 1992-93 when he was also named SWC Coach of the Year.

As a collegian, he averaged 24.2 points and 11.0 rebounds as a senior at Notre Dame while being named firstteam All-American. He finished with 1,334 points and set the school record by shooting .610 from the field.

A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Shumate has two children, Brittany and John.

Phoenix Suns Basketball Staff

Mike ElliottAssistant Athletic Trainer

Dr. Thomas CarterTeam Physician

Dr. Craig PhelpsTeam Physician

Richard HowellEquipment Manager

Noel GillespieVideo Coordinator

Travis AgenterStaff Assistant

Jay GasparEquipment Manager