Timberwolves coach dies at 60

Flip Saunders spent five years coach in La Crosse

Twenty-five years ago, he was the head coach of La Crosse’s championship basketball franchise before making it to the biggest stage, the NBA. 

Philip “Flip” Saunders made a mark in La Crosse as coach of the Catbirds in the CBA from 1989 to 1994, winning titles in 1990 and 1992.

Sunday morning, the winningest coach in Minnesota Timberwolves history, died of Hodgkin lymphoma at age 60.

Many people consider Saunders’ time with the Catbirds the golden era for local sports and downtown entertainment in La Crosse. Saunders was with the Catbirds for the last five years they played at the La Crosse Center.

Local tourism director Dave Clements headed the center a few years while Saunders and the Catbirds were there. Clements recalls that regular season Catbirds games would bring thousands of people downtown, filling restaurants and bars. He especially remembers Christmas night games at the Center as “huge,” selling out the arena on the holiday for several years.

Saunders, a four-year starter for the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team, began chemotherapy four months ago, before suffering from complications to treatment.

Saunders is survived by his wife, Debbie; daughters Mindy, Rachel and Kimberly, and his oldest child, son Ryan, a Wolves assistant coach.

In his first stint with the Timberwolves, Saunders was in charge of bringing along a gangly kid out of high school named Kevin Garnett. He, of course, ended up becoming an NBA superstar, a champion and league MVP.

Sunday, Garnett posted the photo (right) on his Facebook page.