Flip Saunders
Saunders coaching the Washington Wizards in 2011
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 23, 1955 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | October 25, 2015 (aged 60) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
Cuyahoga Heights (Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio) |
| College | Minnesota (1973–1977) |
| Coaching career | 1977–2015 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1977–1981 | Golden Valley Lutheran College |
| 1981–1986 | University of Minnesota (asst.) |
| 1986–1988 | University of Tulsa (asst.) |
| 1988–1989 | Rapid City Thrillers (CBA) |
| 1989–1994 | La Crosse Catbirds (CBA) |
| 1994–1995 | Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) |
| 1995–2005 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2005–2008 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2009–2012 | Washington Wizards |
| 2014–2015 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders (February 23, 1955 – October 25, 2015) was an American basketball player and coach. During his career, he coached the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards.
Saunders was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was an All-state basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School in suburban Cleveland. In his senior season, 1973, he was named Ohio's Class A High School Basketball Player of the Year, leading the state in scoring average with 32.0 points per game. At the University of Minnesota, he started 101 of his 103 career contests and as a senior, teamed with Ray Williams, Mychal Thompson, Kevin McHale, and Osborne Lockhart.
Saunders began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College where he compiled a 92–13 record, including a perfect 56–0 mark at home, in four seasons. In 1981, he became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minnesota, and helped guide the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten championship that season. After five seasons at Minnesota, he became an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa where he worked for two seasons before heading to the pro ranks.
Saunders became the coach of the Rapid City Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in the 1988–89 season, where future Kings and Warriors head coach Eric Musselman served as the team's general manager. Musselman's father, Bill Musselman, had recruited Flip when Bill was head coach at the University of Minnesota.
...
Wikipedia