Phil 'Flip' Saunders
Men’s Basketball, 1974-77
HOF Class of 2004

As a senior at the University of Minnesota, “Flip” Saunders teamed up with Kevin McHale to lead the Gophers to a 24-3 record, at that time the school’s best. Saunders set school records for career free throw percentage (.809) and was sixth in career assists (292).

Graduating in 1977, Saunders began a coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College, compiling a 92-13 record over four seasons. In 1981, he became an assistant coach at Minnesota, helping coach the Gophers to the 1982 Big Ten championship.

After five seasons at Minnesota, he became an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa for two years, and then a coach in the Continental Basketball Association, where he won 253 games, third all-time, and won CBA championships in 1990 and 1992 and was named CBA Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1992.

Saunders again teamed with McHale when the latter hired him as assistant general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became head coach six months later, and guided the Timberwolves for 10 seasons, to a record of 411-326 and eight consecutive playoff appearances including the 2004 Western Conference Finals. He went on to become head coach of the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards before returning to the Timberwolves as President of Basketball Operations and head coach.