Source: Brad Mills, (USA
TODAY Sports)
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, and president of basketball operations and Phil “Flip” Saunders has passed away at the age of 60. Saunders was a basketball lifer, coaching the game since the late 70s, making it to the NBA level in 1995.
Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in June, and hospitalized in September for treatment. As we reported yesterday, Twolves Owner Glen Taylor announced Saunders would not be coaching the 2015-16 season in an effort to focus or recovery. In the interim assistant coach Sam Mitchell was to take the reigns. The Team released in a statement in regards to Saunders passing earlier today.
“It is with extreme sadness that that the Minnesota Timberwolves today learned that Phil “Flip” Saunders who served as the team’s President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach, in addition to Minority Owner has passed away at age 60″
While Saunders coached the Detroit Pistons to three Eastern Conference Finals, and spent time at the head of the Washington Wizards, he is widely known for his time in Minnesota from 1995-2005 as Head Coach. He also became their President of Basketball Operations in 2013 Saunders was closely linked the development of Kevin Garnett and his maturation into a NBA superstar.
Saunders is survived by a wife and four children
Rest Well Flip. You will be missed
