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 101 of his 103 career contests. He began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College with a 92–13 record. He later coached in the CBA with Rapid City, La Crosse, and Sioux Falls, winning two CBA championships. He joined the Timberwolves as general manager in 1995 and became head coach later that season. He led the Timberwolves to their first playoff berth in 1997 and their first division title in 2004. He coached the Detroit Pistons from 2005 to 2008, leading them to three consecutive Central Division titles and three consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances. He then coached the Washington Wizards from 2009 to 2012. He returned to the Timberwolves as head coach in 2014. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015 and died on October 25, 2015.

Reader's Guide

Saunders' 427 wins during parts of ten seasons in two stints are the most in franchise history. He is the only coach to lead the Timberwolves to a winning season or coach a playoff game until the 2017–18 season. In Detroit, he coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars in 2006 and led the Pistons to a franchise-best 64–18 record in 2005–06.

Did You Know?

• Saunders was about 20 yards from the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse on August 1, 2007.
• His son Ryan played guard for the University of Minnesota and later became an NBA assistant and head coach.
• Saunders ranks second in CBA history with 253 career victories.
• He was named CBA Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1992.