The Miami Heat announced today that Ruth Hunter has been named Senior Director of Team Development. In her new role, she will be involved with Player Programs, Analytics and Basketball Operations and report to Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations/General Manager Andy Elisburg.

“Ruth Hunter has been part of the Heat family since the early 2000s when she played with the Miami SOL,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “The knowledge she has accumulated over the years, most notably having worked in the San Antonio front office, makes this one of the most significant hires we’ve made in a long time. We’re extremely happy to welcome her to Basketball Operations full-time and her new role in basketball development.”

Hunter, an Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, NCAA Champion, Sports Business Leader, Global Humanitarian and a 2019 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, recently served as Broadcast Analyst & Basketball Analytics/Player Programs Manager. She also spent the previous four seasons as the team’s radio analyst on all home games as well as a television studio analyst for all home and road games. Since being drafted by the Miami SOL after graduating from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology in 2001, she has garnered a wealth of experience and basketball knowledge including a 13-year playing career in the WNBA as well as serving as General Manager of the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars, First Vice President of the WNBA Player’s Association, an NBA/WNBA Ambassador and Global Director of the NBA Academy’s Women’s Program.

“During the last four seasons, Ruth rapidly developed into an invaluable and respected member of the broadcast team,” said Vice President & Executive Director of Heat Broadcasting Ted Ballard. “Her exceptional versatility, insightful perspective and unmatched dedication were exceeded only by the unquestioned quality of her character, which was on all levels inspiring. It remains a great honor and pleasure to call Ruth a colleague and friend, and we are thrilled that she will continue to be an impactful presence in this organization. Together with our broadcast partners, we will now embark on the process of evaluating and considering candidates to replace the roles Ruth filled so exceptionally.”