- Phil "Flip" Saunders was announced Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons on July 21, 2005
- Had long, very successful coaching career in Continental Basketball Association
- Originally joined the Timberwolves on May 11, 1995 as general manager, working under his former teammate at the University of Minnesota, Kevin McHale
- On Dec. 18, 1995, Saunders was named head coach of the Timberwolves, replacing Bill Blair
- Saunders began his CBA coaching career in 1988-89 with the Rapid City (S.D.) Thrillers, then moved to the LaCrosse (Wis.) Catbirds for five seasons (1989-94) before coaching in 1994-95 with the Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Was general manager (1991-93) and team president (1991-94) of the Catbirds
- Coach Saunders won two CBA championships (1990, 1992), two CBA Coach of the Year honors (1989, 1992)
- Had 23 CBA-to-NBA player promotions
- 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, coach Flip Saunders became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minnesota
- After five seasons at Minnesota, he became an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa
- Was an All-America basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School in Cleveland
- As a player, in his senior season, 1973, he was named Ohio's Class A High School Basketball Player of the Year, posting a state-leading average of 32.0 points per game