Jeff Munneke

Jeff Munneke is the Timberwolves’ employee with the longest tenure, having been hired on June 20, 1988. Munneke has risen through the ranks of the organization, serving in a number of different roles during his time with the Wolves, becoming the organization’s Vice President of Fan Experience in 2012. Previously he had become the team’s Vice President of Client Development in 2004 following a year as executive director of fan relations, 12 years as the organization’s Director of Ticket Sales and 26 years as the Director and Vice President of the Basketball Academy.

Munneke oversees all aspects of fan experiences, which includes serving as the primary contact for all fan interactions with a focus on Wolves and Lynx season ticket holders and being the liaison with all Target Center partners. Munneke developed the vision of the service department(s) that he now on boards and trains to provide superior customer service through personal touches in the Friendliest Building in Sports. Munneke has also overseen community youth basketball, now known as the Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Academy, for 26 seasons, and was on the NBA Youth Basketball Executive Board for two seasons.

He helped to drive the Timberwolves and Lynx readiness plan for COVID-19 return to business in helping research and develop fan experience policies in preparation of the 2020-21 seasons. Munneke developed protocols aimed at promoting the health and safety of our fans and staff include arena entry and exit, socially distant seating, concourse flow, arena sanitation, food and beverage procedures and fan communication and messaging. Munneke earned a distinguished service award from the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) in 2007, as well as being inducted into the MBCA Hall of Honor in October of 2011. He also serves on the Executive board of the Positive Coaching Alliance, which works to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive character-building youth sports experience, and BestPrep, which continues to bridge the business and education community.

Munneke ran the nationally recognized Timberwolves Shootout for 20 seasons. A total of 40 high school players who played in the Shootout made their way to the NBA. He also taught an Intro to Sports class at the University of Minnesota for 12 semesters and is a frequent speaker at many of the area colleges and high schools.

A native of Lake City, Minn., Munneke graduated from Huron University, where he earned a degree in communications and was captain of the basketball team. Munneke broke into the sports industry as a sales representative in 1987 for the Minnesota Strikers, a Major Indoor Soccer League team.

Munneke and his wife, Julie, reside in Champlin, Minnesota with their wiener dogs Lucy and Magic. Their son, Ty (29), works for PXG Golf based out of Scottsdale, AZ and their daughter Megan (20) is a student athlete at the University of South Dakota.