Former Wanganui coach close to goal of NBA team manager

JOHN MASLIN | 18th July 2007

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IT'S A long way from the River City to the seat at the top table of the National Basketball Association - the NBA - but Tony Ronzone is closer to that goal.

Ronzone will be remembered as the likeable player-coach of the Wanganui Wolfpack that played in New Zealand's second division national league in the late 1980s.

His globe-trotting coaching always had a singular focus - to be appointed general manager of a US-based NBA team, the men's basketball competition regarded as the best in the world.

For the last six years Ronzone has been on the staff of the Detroit Pistons, the last two years as the club's director of basketball operations.

Now he's been named director of international player personnel for the US senior men's team through the Beijing Olympic Games next year.

Speaking to the Chronicle from his Detroit office, Ronzone said his role would involve scouting other teams heading to the games as well as evaluating opposition players.

Ronzone called his appointment "an incredible opportunity".

He will work directly with the team and coaches, scouting all the teams the US will meet in Beijing.

"I'll still be director of basketball operations for the Pistons.

But this opportunity increases the chances for me to be a general manager of an NBA team," he said.

"That's my ultimate goal."

"Tony's considered one of the premiere talent scouts in the business and his strength certainly is international basketball and we're pleased to have him involved," according to Jerry Colangelo, the US team's managing director.

Ronzone began his coaching career with the Wanganui team soon after finishing university.

Since then he has gone on to coach in the United Arab Emirates as well as serving as assistant coach for the Chinese youth national team in 1998 before being appointed to coach the Chinese National Team in the 2001.

"This is a great opportunity for me to be working with Jerry Colengelo, who runs USA Basketball, as well as coach Mike Krzyzewski who's head coach of the USA team," he said.

"I'll also be working with assistant coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Phoenix Suns head mentor Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan."

Ronzone continues to conduct clinics and camps around the world.

The US team held a mini-training camp last weekend in Las Vegas. That camp determined the final squad that will compete next month in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, also being staged in Las Vegas.

Among players at the camp were NBA stars including Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Shane Battier (Houston Rockets), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets), and Amar? Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns).