Basketball Operations & Coaching Staff

Head Coach
DJ Bakker

DJ Bakker begins his first season with the Swarm. Bakker’s NBA coaching experience includes player development roles with the Dallas Mavericks (2015-16) and Toronto Raptors (2016-18). During his time in Toronto, Bakker worked on development programs for Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell. Bakker spent one season (2013-14) as a regional advance scout for the Orlando Magic, and he began his NBA career in 2009-10 as a video coordinator with the Chicago Bulls. In addition to his NBA experience, Bakker also worked as a player development coach for three years under renowned trainer Tim Grover at ATTACK Athletics in Chicago. A native of Highland, Ind., Bakker played basketball at Trinity Christian College, where he earned a degree in business administration. He and his wife, Laura, have three children – Chasity, Kinsley and Benson.

General Manager
Cole Teal

Teal enters his fourth season with the Swarm, second as General Manager, after serving as Manager of Basketball Operations & Player Development and Basketball Operations Assistant. Prior to the Swarm, he worked for the Delaware Blue Coats and Windy City Bulls as a Basketball Operations Associate. Teal graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology from Williams College where he was a four-year member of the men’s Basketball program and was a starter on the 2017 NCAA DIII Final Four team. He also has experience as support staff for the USA Basketball Junior National Team, AmeriCup, World Cup Qualifier and World Cup teams. Teal began his professional career as an intern for Fenway Sports Management and the Houston Rockets.