The Dakota Wizards have had a long run of success at the game of basketball. But owner Steve McCormick said there's a game that's just as important where the team needs some improvement.

"It's become very obvious that this has become a sales game, sales game, sales game," McCormick said.

The Wizards are hoping they got stronger in that are Tuesday by hiring Terri Benson to be the team's general manager. Benson takes over for Tom Wagganer, who was fired last week after three seasons as GM.

Benson, a Flasher native, has extensive sales experience, primarily in radio and television. She has been the sales manager for Fox (Prime Cities Broadcasting) since 1999. In 2002 she added the duties of ABC (Forum Communications) television affiliates on a regional and local level.

"We feel very fortunate that we have somebody of her sales caliber to help us for next season," McCormick said. "… We didn't make money last year. It's hard to have two high-profile people. We needed to be more sales-oriented. Tom's done a great job for us. We wish Tom nothing but the best."

Benson said she was eager to get the chance to help get the Wizards back in the black.

"I'm always up for a new challenge," Benson said. "When it was presented to me, I thought it was an optimum time to do it."

Unlike in the major leagues, general managers at D-League level are focused on generating revenue and are usually not involved in player personnel. Still, most of Dakota's general managers have had sports backgrounds.

In the last 10 years, the people who have held the position are Dave Joerger; Alex Geche, who had a background in minor league baseball; Jane Link, who had put in four years with the Wizards before becoming general manager; and Wagganer, who had worked in the D-League for years.

McCormick said Benson's lack of experience in sports is a small hurdle to overcome.

"We don't feel (a sports background) is necessary," he said. "We feel that with the people we have involved, we'll have enough strength to carry and help her. The D-League is going to bring people in to help us.

"We do know that there is probably a little bit of an area there where we have to bring her up to speed. We feel that with the staff, we can do that."

Benson expressed confidence that she can make the transition from television to sports.

"I didn't know marketing 26 years ago, but I learned it, and Ibelieve I learned it well from various mentors throughout my years," Benson said. "I believe that's going to happen with learning the game of basketball."

One thing Benson will have to overcome is being part of a small front-office staff. Benson will be part of a three-person crew. Most D-League teams have eight or nine staffers.

"The size of the market is kind of dictating that," McCormick said. "We've always had that criticism, but we can pretty much cover it with the size staff we have. We really don't agree with the league's assessment that we're short of people."

McCormick said Benson will have free rein to make changes, but she said her first order of business is to assess the team's situation.

What I want to do is analyze the last couple of years and see where we were, where we're at, and where we want to be. That's what I'm putting together right now.

McCormick added that this season, the Wizards' 15th, will be important in assessing the team's future.

"It is a very critical season,"McCormick said. "People in Bismarck and the communities surrounding Bismarck, if they want the Wizards, they need to support the Wizards. If the Wizards are going to stay here and thrive, they have to get more fan participation. We've got great fans, we've got great people here. We just need to get back in the mainstream and get the Civic (Center) a little more full.

"… I think it's viable long-term, and I think Terri's going to be a great part of that."