Flip Saunders facts for kids
Saunders coaching the Washington Wizards in 2011
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1955 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | October 25, 2015 (aged 60) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| High school | Cuyahoga Heights (Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Minnesota (1973–1977) |
| Coaching career | 1977–2015 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1977–1981 | Golden Valley Lutheran |
| 1981–1986 | Minnesota (assistant) |
| 1986–1988 | Tulsa (assistant) |
| 1988–1989 | Rapid City Thrillers |
| 1989–1994 | La Crosse Catbirds |
| 1994–1995 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 1995–2005 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2005–2008 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2009–2012 | Washington Wizards |
| 2014–2015 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders (born February 23, 1955 – died October 25, 2015) was a famous American basketball player and coach. He coached several professional basketball teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards. He was known for his smart strategies and for helping young players become stars.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Career
High School Basketball Star
Flip Saunders was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up to be an amazing basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School. In 1973, during his senior year, he was named Ohio's Class A High School Basketball Player of the Year. He led the state in scoring, averaging 32.0 points per game.
College Years at Minnesota
After high school, Flip went to the University of Minnesota. He played in almost every game, starting 101 out of 103 games during his college career. In his senior year, he played alongside future NBA stars like Kevin McHale.
Coaching Journey
Starting in College Basketball
Flip Saunders began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College. He had a fantastic record there, winning 92 games and losing only 13. He was especially good at home, winning all 56 home games. In 1981, he became an assistant coach at his old college, the University of Minnesota. He helped the team win the Big Ten championship that season. After five years, he moved to the University of Tulsa as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Coaching in the CBA League
In 1988, Flip became a head coach in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), a professional league before the NBA. He coached the Rapid City Thrillers for one season.
He then moved to the La Crosse Catbirds, where he coached for five seasons (1989–1994). During this time, he led the Catbirds to two CBA Championships (in 1990 and 1992). He also won the CBA Coach of the Year award twice (in 1989 and 1992). Flip was very successful in the CBA, helping 23 players move up to the NBA. He is ranked second in CBA history with 253 career victories. After La Crosse, he coached the Sioux Falls Skyforce for one season.
Leading the Minnesota Timberwolves
On May 11, 1995, Flip Saunders joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He started as the general manager. On December 18, 1995, he became the head coach. The team had a tough start, but Flip helped them improve.
He guided the Timberwolves to their first-ever playoff appearance in the 1996–97 season. A year later, he led them to their first winning season. They even won a franchise-record 50 games in the 1999–2000 season and again in 2001–2002. In the 2003–04 season, the Timberwolves won their first division title and reached the Western Conference Finals. This was a huge achievement for the team.
However, the team struggled in the 2004–05 season. Flip was fired in February 2005. Many fans felt this was unfair, blaming player contract issues instead of Flip's coaching.
Coaching the Detroit Pistons
On July 21, 2005, Flip Saunders became the coach of the Detroit Pistons. Under his leadership, the Pistons had an amazing season, winning 64 games and setting a new team record. Flip also coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.
He led the Pistons to win their division three times in a row. They also reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times in a row. Flip became the longest-serving Pistons coach since the legendary Chuck Daly. However, after losing in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, Flip was fired. The team felt they needed a "new voice."
Time with the Washington Wizards
On April 14, 2009, Flip Saunders agreed to become the new coach of the Washington Wizards. He coached the team for a few seasons. On January 24, 2012, he was fired from the Wizards.
Return to the Minnesota Timberwolves
On June 6, 2014, Flip Saunders returned to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves for a second time. During this period, he was also the team's President of Basketball Operations. He was the only coach to lead the Timberwolves to a winning season or coach a playoff game for a long time.
Basketball Executive Role
Boston Celtics Advisor
On April 29, 2012, Flip Saunders joined the Boston Celtics as an advisor. In this role, he helped the team with their basketball decisions.
President of Timberwolves Operations
On May 3, 2013, Flip was named the Timberwolves' President of Basketball Operations. This meant he was in charge of all the team's basketball-related decisions. When he became head coach again in 2014, he held both important roles.
Personal Life
Flip Saunders was married to Debbie, and they had four children. His son, Ryan, followed in his footsteps and became a basketball coach. Ryan later coached the Timberwolves, just like his father. Flip's daughters, Mindy, Kim, and Rachel, all attended the University of Minnesota. Kim and Rachel were even on the University of Minnesota Dance Team, winning many national and world championships.
Flip was very close to a major event in Minneapolis. He was about 60 feet away from the I-35W Mississippi River bridge when it collapsed on August 1, 2007.
Death and Legacy
On August 11, 2015, Flip Saunders announced that he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer. He began treatment and planned to continue his work with the Timberwolves. However, after complications, he was hospitalized and sadly passed away on October 25, 2015, at the age of 60.
Flip Saunders left a lasting impact on basketball. On February 15, 2018, the Timberwolves honored him by unveiling a permanent banner in the Target Center, their home arena. A few years after his death, his son Ryan Saunders became the Timberwolves' head coach, continuing his father's legacy.
In 2020, the south gymnasium at Cuyahoga Heights High School, Flip's old high school, was renamed in his honor. His family and the entire 2020 Minnesota Timberwolves team attended the ceremony.
See also
In Spanish: Flip Saunders para niños
