Tommy Sheppard (basketball)

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Tommy Sheppard
2019 Tommy Sheppard (48823795318).jpg
Sheppard in 2019
Washington Wizards
Position President of Basketball Operations & general manager
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969 (age 52)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
NationalityAmerican
Career information
High schoolSt. Pius X (Albuquerque)
CollegeNew Mexico State

Thomas F. Sheppard (born August 17, 1969) is an American sports executive who is the President of Basketball Operations and general manager of the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. His executive career started with the Denver Nuggets in 1994. Sheppard joined the Wizards as an assistant executive under Ernie Grunfeld in 2003 and was later promoted to general manager following the dismissal of Grunfeld in 2019.

Early life and career[]

Sheppard was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he attended St. Pius X High School. Sheppard attended New Mexico State University, where he played three years for the New Mexico State Aggies football team, before graduating in 1991. Sheppard started his career in sports management, when he accepted a job with the Aggies as a graduate assistant to the sports information director.[1]

Sheppard would later move to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he served as the sports information director for the UNLV Rebels for three seasons.[2]

Executive career[]

Denver Nuggets[]

Sheppard was hired by the Denver Nuggets in 1994 as the team's senior director of team services and player relations. Sheppard was responsible for overseeing the team's public relations department, in addition to scouting players in the high school, college and international ranks.[3]

Washington Wizards[]

Sheppard was hired by the Wizards in 2003, serving as the team's vice-president of basketball operations under the newly hired president and general manager Ernie Grunfeld.

Sheppard served in various capacities with the franchise and was responsible for the team's rebuilding efforts, which saw the Wizards move on from Gilbert Arenas and placing a greater emphasis on drafting and developing players. Sheppard was considered influential in the team's decision to build around both John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Sheppard was appointed the interim general manager of the Wizards following Grunfeld's dismissal on April 2, 2019.[4] He was later named to the position full-time on July 19, 2019.[5][6] In November 2021, he signed a multi-year contract extension and was also given the title of team president.[7]

Personal life[]

Sheppard has served as a guest lecturer in sports management at Georgetown University since 2009.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Albuquerque product Tommy Sheppard gets his NBA dream job". abqjournal.com. Albuquerque Journal. July 19, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Former Rebel tasked with running Wizards out of mediocrity". reviewjournal.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 30, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Wizards promote Tommy Sheppard to full-time general manager". Wizards.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 19, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Out of magic: Wizards fire prez Ernie Grunfeld". ESPN.com. ESPN. April 2, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "Washington Wizards hire Tommy Sheppard as general manager". upi.com. UPI. July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Wizards promote Tommy Sheppard to full-time general manager". Wizards.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 19, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Washington Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard lands contract extension amid team's fast start". ESPN. Associated Press . Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Wizards promote Tommy Sheppard to full-time general manager". gufaculty.com. Georgetown University. Retrieved January 30, 2021.

External links[]

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