Ryan Saunders, School of Kinesiology sport management alumnus, was awarded as a CEHD Distinguished Alumni on Thursday, November 21. Saunders is the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves men’s basketball team.

As a U of M student-athlete, he played for the Gopher men’s basketball team, where he was a two-time captain, four-time scholar-athlete award winner, and a 2006 Big Ten All-Academic selection. Saunders received his bachelor of science degree in 2008, and then served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards and as head coach for Minnesota’s Las Vegas Summer League entry.

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images.