Spurs Hire Monty Williams as VP of Basketball Operations

Monty Williams, former associate head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder has joined the San Antonio Spurs front office as vice president of basketball operations, according to a report on NBA.com. Williams is well-liked around the league, including the city of Portland, where he served as an assistant coach to Nate McMillan from 2005 to 2010. Over the course of Williams’ career, he played for five NBA teams, coached for three in various positions, and was an integral part of the USA Basketball staff.

Williams returns to San Antonio for his second stint with the Spurs. After a nine-year NBA playing career, including two-plus seasons with the Spurs, Williams got his start in the front office and coaching while serving as a coaching intern with the Silver and Black during the 2004-05 campaign. Last season Williams served as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to joining the Thunder he was the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010-2015, guiding the Pelicans to the postseason twice. Before his time in New Orleans, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach on the Portland Trail Blazers’ bench. In 2013, he was named an assistant coach for the 2013-16 USA Basketball Men’s National Team. He earned a degree from Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, majoring in communications and theatre.

The Spurs also added Brian Wright (assistant general manager), Phil Cullen (director of basketball strategy), Pat Sund (Pro personnel scout/Austin Spurs assistant general manager), Nick Repole (director of basketball information systems), and Landry Fields (college scout) to their front office. There was no mention of the recently retired Tim Duncan, who many expect to join the organization in a personnel capacity at some point in the future.