NATE TIBBETTS | Head Coach
Nate Tibbetts begins his third season as head coach for the Tulsa 66ers. Last season under Tibbetts, Tulsa earned its second consecutive trip to the NBA D-League playoffs, where it advanced to the 2011 Semifinals. During the regular season, Tulsa recorded a 33-17 overall record, marking the most victories in the season in team history. During the campaign, the 66ers tallied 14 consecutive victories dating from Dec. 30 to Jan. 29. Also under his leadership, Tulsa saw three of its players earn four total GATORADE Call-Ups during the season, which was most in the D-League. Tibbetts also was selected to lead the West team in the 2011 D-League All-Star Game after guiding Tulsa to a Western Conference-best 24-10 overall record heading into the All-Star break. The 66ers ranked among the best in several defensive categories in 2010-11, including second in the League in opponent’s points per game (98.8), third in turnovers forced per game (18.1) and fourth overall in steals (9.04). Offensively, Tulsa was fifth in the D-League with a team field goal percentage of .472.
In the Fall of 2011, Tibbetts was selected to be the head coach for the USA in the 2011 Pan American Games. Comprised of D-League players, Team USA recorded a 3-2 mark in Mexico under Tibbetts and earned a bronze medal, the first medal for the United States since 1999.
In Tibbetts’ first season as the head coach in Tulsa, he led the 66ers to the D-League Finals in their first ever trip to the playoffs in team history. Under the direction of Tibbetts, the 66ers compiled a 27-23 record during the 2009-10 campaign, marking the most wins in franchise history at the time. The win total was a 12-game improvement from the previous season.
In Tibbetts’ first season at the helm, Tulsa ranked in the top five in several team statistical categories including fourth in field goal percentage (.476), third in three-point percentage (.392) and fourth in defensive rebounds (1517).
Tibbetts joined the 66ers in 2009 after spending four seasons with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. After two seasons as an assistant with the Skyforce, Tibbetts was promoted to head coach prior the 2007-08 season. In two seasons at the helm, Tibbetts guided Sioux Falls to a 53-47 (.530) mark including a playoff berth during the 2007-08 season.
Before joining the Skyforce in 2005, Tibbetts was an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Sioux Falls for four years (2001-05). In his four seasons at USF, the Cougars posted a record of 92-44 (.676), including two trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The 2003-04 team posted a school record 26 wins before falling to Bellevue University (Neb.) 72-60 in the Final Four of the NAIA Division II Tournament.
Tibbetts enjoyed a successful collegiate career at the University of South Dakota. He ranks second all-time in the USD record books in career assists (678) and steals (215). He was named to the All-North Central Conference (NCC) team in 2000-01 and Honorable Mention All-NCC in 1999-00.
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 DALE OSBOURNE | Assistant Coach
Dale Osbourne begins his third season as assistant coach of the Tulsa 66ers. Osbourne brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the 66ers that includes stints in the USBL, CBA and WNBA prior to coaching in the D-League. Osbourne spent two seasons prior to Tulsa with the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League, helping lead the team to a 56-44 (.560) over that span, including a Western Division title and a trip to the NBA D-League Finals in 2009 past season. Prior to Utah, he served as an assistant coach with the Austin Toros and the late NBA great Dennis Johnson.
From 2004-06 Osbourne was head coach of the USBL Dodge City Legend, and also served as the team's general manager in 2005-06. He led Dodge City to consecutive regular season and division championships in 2004 and 2005, and was named the 2004 USBL Coach of the Year. The Legend won the USBL championship in 2004-05 and reached the finals the next season.
In seven years as an assistant at the University of South Alabama, Osbourne helped guide his alma mater to a pair of Sun Belt Conference titles.
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 PAUL RIVERS | Director Of Minor League Operations and Basketball Technology
Paul Rivers enters his fourth season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and recently wrapped up his first season as the team’s Director of Minor League Operations and Basketball Technology. Rivers spent the previous three seasons serving as Director of Basketball Administration & Technology.
In his current role with the team, Rivers is responsible for the basketball operation of the
Tulsa 66ers including player personnel and development. Rivers also oversees all aspects
of the Thunder technology program and works closely with the Thunder coaching staff and leadership team to
keep the team on the cutting edge of technological advances.
The Bloomfield Hills, MI. native was an integral part of the design and construction of the new Integris
Health Thunder Development Center in Northeast Oklahoma City. Rivers oversaw the layout design and overall
construction of the facility on behalf of the Thunder organization.
Rivers served as a video coordinator with the Detroit Pistons from 2005-07, assisting the coaching staff
during practices and games while also handling all of the club’s video operations and footage.
Rivers began his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs as a video coordinator during the 2004-05
season. Prior to joining the Spurs, he spent two years at Michigan State University. Rivers served as video
coordinator under head coach Tom Izzo and the men’s basketball team in 2003-04, and for the Spartans’
women’s basketball team during the 2002-03 season.
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 BRANDON BARNETT | Director of Minor League Scouting and Manager of Minor League Operations
Brandon Barnett begins his fourth season with the Tulsa 66ers. Barnett joined the organization after working for the NBA League office in New York City for the previous two years. Barnett brings an extensive background in minor league basketball to Tulsa. While with the league office, Barnett served most recently as Senior Coordinator of Basketball Operations for the NBA Development League.
He joined the D-League during the 2004-05 season as an intern and quickly solidified his value to the Basketball Operations department. Barnett’s role in the D-League, among other things, involved evaluating, recruiting and signing players for the league.
A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Barnett graduated cum laude from Emerson College in Boston, Mass., in 2003, with a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism.
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 TONY KATZENMEIER | Minor League Athletic Trainer
Tony Katzenmeier enters his second season as the Athletic Trainer for the Tulsa 66ers. Katzenmeier came to Oklahoma from Santa Monica, Calif., where he was most recently employed by Athletes’ Performance and Core Performance.
He received his Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, where he gained experience working with the wildcats’ basketball, baseball and football teams as a student trainer. He then earned his Master’s degree at Eastern Illinois University before being hired on full-time as the institution’s athletic trainer.
Katzenmeier has also served as an athletic training intern with the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots.
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 JERMAINE BYRD | Minor League Video Coordinator
Jermaine Byrd begins his second season as Video Coordinator for the Tulsa 66ers. Prior to video coordinator, Byrd served as the team’s basketball operations assistant in 2009-10.
Prior to his arrival in Tulsa, Byrd served as the Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Houston women’s basketball team from 2006-08.
Byrd also enjoyed a successful college basketball career at the University of Sioux Falls, as he helped lead his university to its first Final Four appearance in school history. Leading Sioux Falls that season was current Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts.
Byrd received his Bachelor’s degree in Social Science.
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 JORDAN WEBB | Athletic Performance Coordinator
Jordan Webb enters his first season as the team’s Athletic Performance Coordinator. Webb is responsible for the development and implementation of strength and nutritional programs for the 66ers, as well as assisting each player in establishing a personalized diet and offseason training program.
Prior to joining the 66ers staff, the Tiffin, Ohio native served as the Assistant Fitness Coach for the Seattle Sounders FC during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Webb graduated from Missouri Valley College where he double-majored in Sports and Exercise Science and Sports Business Management.
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 MITCH HECKART | Public Relations Manager
Mitch Heckart begins his second season with the 66ers organization as the public relations manager. Heckart handles all day-to-day basketball communications and corporate communications for the team, as well as all community relations efforts of the team. He also provides content for the 66ers website and serves as the primary contact of media covering the 66ers.
Heckart joined the organization from the University of Oklahoma where he earned his Master’s Degree in Sports Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. He served as a graduate assistant for the OU Communications department as well as served on the Oklahoma City Thunder game night staff for two years.
Heckart is a native of Woodward, Oklahoma.
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