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Report: Flip Saunders turns down his alma mater

Minnesota Smith Fired Basketball

Minnesota director of athletics Norwood Teague pauses before speaking at an NCAA college basketball news conference announcing that men’s head coach Tubby Smith has been fired Monday, March 25, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/The St. Paul Pioneer Press, John Doman)

AP

To follow along with the 2013 Coaching Carousel, click here.

The name Flip Saunders has been bandied about by those watching the Minnesota coaching search. Saunders, who played for the Gophers, was an assistant for his alma mater, and led the Timberwolves for ten years, has been a favorite of boosters.

According to Andy Katz, Minnesota AD Norwood Teague made the offer and was rejected today.

Source: Minnesota offered the job to ESPN analyst/former NBA coach Flip Saunders but he has declined the offer from his alma mater.

— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) March 30, 2013


With most of the big names out of the running for the Minnesota job, we may see Teague go after some high-profile assistants. When Teague was at VCU, he mined the assistant ranks for the likes of Anthony Grant and Shaka Smart, to great effect. Having made the expected moves, perhaps now he will feel free to pursue the next big thing instead of the current big thing.

Eric Angevine is the editor of Storming the Floor. He tweets @stfhoops.