The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the contract signing of Randy Wittman as head coach. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wittman coached the Timberwolves the final 42 games of the 2006-07 season after taking over for Dwane Casey on Jan. 23, 2007.

"Randy has a commanding presence in our locker room and we believe he is the best man to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. “We have the utmost confidence in Randy as a leader and have no doubt that he will return the organization to the prominence we had a couple of seasons ago."

Wittman returned to the Timberwolves prior to the start of the 2006-07 season after serving as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic in 2005-06. Prior to that, Wittman served as an assistant with the Wolves for nine seasons in two separate stints (1994-95 – 1998-99 and 2001-02 – 2004-05). He also served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons (1999-2000 and 2000-01), compiling a 62-102 record.

Wittman originally came to Minnesota from the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent the 1993-94 season as an assistant coach under Quinn Buckner. He also served one season (1992-93) on Bob Hill’s staff with the Indiana Pacers.

A 1983 graduate of Indiana University and two-time academic All-American, Wittman played nine seasons in the NBA. He was a first round draft choice of the Washington Bullets but was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the start of the 1983-84 campaign. During his NBA playing career, Wittman saw action with the Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, averaging 7.4 ppg while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor in 543 career games.