Flip Saunders

Lore & Background

Saunders was born in Cleveland, Ohio in February 1955. He was an All-state basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School. At the University of Minnesota, he started 60 of his 103 career contests. He began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College, compiling a 92–13 record. He later coached in the CBA with the La Crosse Catbirds and Sioux Falls Skyforce, winning two CBA championships. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as general manager on May 11, 1995, and became head coach on December 18, 1995. He led the Timberwolves to their first playoff berth in 1996–97 and their first division title in 2003–04. He was fired on February 12, 2005. He coached the Detroit Pistons from 2005 to 2008, leading them to three consecutive Central Division titles and Eastern Conference finals appearances. He coached the Washington Wizards from 2009 to 2012, departing with a record of 51–130. He returned to the Timberwolves as head coach on June 6, 2014. During his second stint, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He died on October 25, 2015.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dimmed, casting long shadows across the polished hardwood where he once paced anxiously during crucial timeouts. A single spotlight illuminated the scorer's table, highlighting the banner bearing his name and number. In the stands, a sea of blue jerseys stood silent, not in mourning, but in reverence for the man who taught them that basketball was about more than scores. The sound of sneakers squeaking returned slowly as the players took their positions, carrying the weight of his legacy into every pass and shot.

Reader's Guide

Saunders' 427 wins during parts of ten seasons in two stints are the most in franchise history. Until the 2017–18 season, he was the only coach to lead the Timberwolves to a winning season or coach a playoff game. He coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. The source does not state that he won NBA Coach of the Year. The source does not state that his jersey number was retired. The source states that after complications in September 2015, team owner Glen Taylor announced Saunders would miss the next season, so he was not leading the team at the time of his death.

Did You Know?

• Saunders led the Timberwolves to their first-ever playoff berth in the 1996–97 season.
• He coached the Detroit Pistons to a franchise-best 64–18 record in the 2005–06 season.
• Saunders ranks second in CBA history with 253 career victories.
• His son Ryan later became an NBA assistant coach and head coach of the Timberwolves.