The Minnesota Timberwolves have added former NBA veteran Will Barton to the Iowa Wolves coaching staff as an assistant coach, the team announced Thursday. Barton joins a staff led by new General Manager Josh Gershon and Assistant GM Andrew Novak.
Barton, a 2012 second-round draft pick by the Portland Trail Blazers, spent more than a decade in the NBA, including stints with the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, and Toronto Raptors. He also played internationally in China, Puerto Rico, and Spain before transitioning into coaching.
The Iowa Wolves also hired D’Juan Hines as Strength Coach and Michael DiBenedetto as Assistant Coach, with Sharod Wright and Addison Walters joining as Manager of Basketball Operations and Assistant Coach, respectively.
Gershon, entering his sixth season with the organization, will oversee Iowa’s basketball operations and Basketball Intelligence department. He previously served as the team’s Director of Basketball Intelligence and Assistant GM.
Novak has been with Minnesota since 2017 and spent the last three seasons as the Timberwolves Manager of Scouting. He will now serve as Assistant GM for Iowa, focusing on player development and team operations.
Barton’s arrival adds significant NBA experience to Iowa’s coaching staff. During his career, he averaged 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game over 679 NBA regular-season contests. His time in Denver was particularly productive, with multiple seasons averaging more than 14 points per game.
DiBenedetto, in his fourth season with the Wolves organization, previously worked as a player development and video coordinator with the Indiana Pacers. Walters returns to Iowa after previously serving as a Basketball Operations Associate and working with the Bahamas National Team.
Hines brings expertise from collegiate athletics, joining Iowa after serving as an assistant strength coach at the University of Arkansas. His background includes a seven-year professional football career before moving into coaching.
