Yahoo Sports Timberwolves officially name Ryan Saunders head coach
Ryan Saunders officially finalized a multiyear deal to become the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced on Monday afternoon. Saunders served as the team’s interim head coach for much of the 2019 season.
At 33 years old, Saunders is now the youngest head coach in the league.
“I want to thank Mr. Taylor and Gersson Rosas for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team and organization I have so much respect for,” Saunders said in a statement. “I look forward to building on what we established last season in terms of instilling a positive environment for our players to grow on and off the court. I’m excited to collaborate with Gersson and our staff to build a winning team that we can all be proud of.”
The Timberwolves reportedly finalized plans last month to keep Saunders and general manager Scott Layden. Saunders was promoted from assistant to replace Tom Thibodeau, who Minnesota fired in early January after a 19-21 start to the season.
Saunders stepped into a role his father, Flip, once held from 1995 to 2005. Flip Saunders led the team to its first playoff berth in the 1996-97 campaign. In 2003-04 the team won its first division title and went to the Western Conference finals. He returned to coach the team for a season in 2014-15.
The Timberwolves finished this season 17-25 under Saunders while dealing with various injuries. He went into the coaching search with the support of the T-Wolves roster, according to The Athletic, including all-star Karl-Anthony Towns.
New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas met with coaching candidates at the draft combine, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but “turned back” to Saunders. The team reportedly spoke with Miami Heat assistant Juwan Howard, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, New Orleans Pelicans assistant Chris Finch and Portland Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool.
Saunders “earned” the head coach position by formally interviewing and meeting with Rosas heading into the combine, per The Athletic.
“Ryan is an excellent communicator and has developed open and trusting relationships with our players,” Rosas said in a statement. “I’ve known Ryan for many years and have always respected his approach to the game, work ethic, basketball knowledge and passion. His coaching style and philosophies are ideal for the modern NBA and I am confident that as a partner he will get the most out of our players as we build an identity and a sustainable winning model.”
Saunders was born in Minnesota and spent most of his teen years there while his father coached. He attended the University of Minnesota as a walk-on guard and served as an assistant in the Washington Wizards organization for five years prior to joining the Timberwolves in 2014.
The Timberwolves also hired Brooklyn Nets director of global scouting Gianluca Pascucci as an assistant general manager, according to ESPN.
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