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Interim to full time: Mixed success for Minnesota pro sports coaches

July 14, 2020 at 5:12AM
Three interim coaches who became head coaches of Minnesota pro teams, with varying levels of success (clockwise from top left): the Vikings' Mike Tice, the Timberwolves' Flip Saunders and the Twins' Tom Kelly.
Three interim coaches who became head coaches of Minnesota pro teams, with varying levels of success (clockwise from top left): the Vikings' Mike Tice, the Timberwolves' Flip Saunders and the Twins' Tom Kelly. (Brian Wicker/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

MIXED SUCCESS

Others in Minnesota professional sports history who had the interim tag removed:

Coach/manager Interim season Permanent job

Mike Tice, Vikings 2001 2002-05 (four seasons)

Leslie Frazier, Vikings 2010 2011-13 (three seasons)

Sidney Lowe, Wolves 1992-93 1993-94 (one season)

Flip Saunders, Wolves 1995-96 1996-2005 (eight-plus seasons)

Randy Wittman, Wolves 2006-07 2007-08 (one-plus seasons)

Ryan Saunders, Wolves 2018-19 2019-present (one season)

Sam Mele, Twins 1961 1962-67 (five-plus seasons)

Cal Ermer, Twins 1967 1968 (one season)

Frank Quilici, Twins 1972 1973-75 (three seasons)

Johnny Goryl, Twins 1980 1981 (less than one season)

Billy Gardner, Twins 1981 1982-85 (three-plus seasons)

Ray Miller, Twins 1985 1986 (less than one season)

Tom Kelly, Twins 1986 1987-2001 (15 seasons)

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