University of Minnesota Athletics
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Ryan Saunders Named Timberwolves Interim Head Coach
1/7/2019 9:23:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former Minnesota men's basketball player and graduate manager Ryan Saunders was named the interim head coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, the organization announced Sunday evening.
Saunders, who has been an assistant coach with the team since 2014 and an NBA assistant coach since 2009, played two seasons with the Gophers before suffering a career-ending injury. He was a graduate manager during the 2008-09 season before beginning his NBA career.
He becomes the second active NBA head coach to have played for the Maroon and Gold, joining Memphis Grizzlies head coach JB Bickerstaff, a 2001 graduate of the U. In total, five Gopher alumni have now served as NBA head coaches, including John Kundla, Kevin McHale, and Flip Saunders, father of Ryan Saunders.
Saunders, who has been an assistant coach with the team since 2014 and an NBA assistant coach since 2009, played two seasons with the Gophers before suffering a career-ending injury. He was a graduate manager during the 2008-09 season before beginning his NBA career.
He becomes the second active NBA head coach to have played for the Maroon and Gold, joining Memphis Grizzlies head coach JB Bickerstaff, a 2001 graduate of the U. In total, five Gopher alumni have now served as NBA head coaches, including John Kundla, Kevin McHale, and Flip Saunders, father of Ryan Saunders.
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