19 Facts About Flip Saunders

Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders was an American basketball player and coach.

Flip Saunders was an All-state basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School in suburban Cleveland.

Flip Saunders served as general manager and team president of the Catbirds.

Flip Saunders would leave after seven productive seasons as a head coach in the CBA, where he ranks second with 253 career victories.

Flip Saunders joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association on May 11,1995, as general manager, working under his former Minnesota teammate, Kevin McHale.

On December 18,1995, Flip Saunders was named head coach of the Timberwolves, replacing Bill Blair.

On February 12,2005, McHale fired Flip Saunders and named himself head coach for the rest of the season.

Many fans believed that Flip Saunders' firing was unwarranted, citing instead the contract troubles of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell as the reasons for the team's failure.

However, many acknowledged that Flip Saunders had coached ten years in Minnesota, and perhaps a new voice was needed.

Flip Saunders replaced Larry Brown as coach of the Detroit Pistons on July 21,2005.

Flip Saunders did still lead them to the Eastern Conference finals , but they lost to the Boston Celtics, who went on to win the NBA Finals that year.

On June 3,2008, just days after the loss to the Celtics, Flip Saunders was fired as head coach.

On January 24,2012, Flip Saunders was fired as the coach of the Wizards.

On June 6,2014, Flip Saunders was named the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, returning to the franchise for a second stint.

On May 3,2013, Flip Saunders was named the Timberwolves' President of Basketball Operations.

On June 5,2014, Flip Saunders was named head coach as well.

Flip Saunders's daughter, Mindy attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the dance team.

Flip Saunders planned to remain the Timberwolves' head coach and president.

Flip Saunders died on October 25,2015, at the age of 60.