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Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders was fired Saturday and replaced by vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale.
Saunders, who had the second-longest tenure among NBA coaches, will be reassigned within the organization, the team said.
McHale, who will coach the Timberwolves for the rest of the season, said he called Saunders on Saturday morning to break the news.
"We talked this morning, and it was very, very hard," McHale said. "We've known each other for a long time, but our last 32 games we're 12-20, and just not playing at a level that's acceptable, energy-wise.
"Maybe a new voice will help," McHale said. "I'm going to do my best to get these guys competing at a higher level."
Minnesota is 25-26 this season, a disappointment after last season's franchise-best 58-24 mark. Spurred on by Kevin Garnett's MVP year, the Wolves reached the Western Conference finals for the first time, creating optimism heading into this season.
It hasn't been as easy. Saunders has used 12 different starting lineups this season and bewildered his players at times with his substitution patterns, all in an effort to become successful again.
The Timberwolves have dropped seven of their last eight, and McHale was frustrated with their listless play over the first half of the season.
"Our effort level is just not there, and I said, 'Glen, it's on me,' and he said, 'Do something about it,'" McHale said, referring to owner Glen Taylor.
In more than nine seasons, Saunders posted a 411-326 record. He was hired on Dec. 18, 1995, taking over for Bill Blair. Last year, Saunders became the eighth person in NBA history to have coached his first 700 games with the same organization.
Only Jerry Sloan, who has coached the Utah Jazz since 1988, had a longer tenure than Saunders among current NBA coaches.
McHale has been with Minnesota since 1993, serving as a special assistant to the coaching staff, broadcast analyst, and assistant general manager before becoming vice president of basketball operations in May 1995.
Saunders' firing is the fifth coaching change in the NBA this season.
Source: AP
Saunders, who had the second-longest tenure among NBA coaches, will be reassigned within the organization, the team said.
McHale, who will coach the Timberwolves for the rest of the season, said he called Saunders on Saturday morning to break the news.
"We talked this morning, and it was very, very hard," McHale said. "We've known each other for a long time, but our last 32 games we're 12-20, and just not playing at a level that's acceptable, energy-wise.
"Maybe a new voice will help," McHale said. "I'm going to do my best to get these guys competing at a higher level."
Minnesota is 25-26 this season, a disappointment after last season's franchise-best 58-24 mark. Spurred on by Kevin Garnett's MVP year, the Wolves reached the Western Conference finals for the first time, creating optimism heading into this season.
It hasn't been as easy. Saunders has used 12 different starting lineups this season and bewildered his players at times with his substitution patterns, all in an effort to become successful again.
The Timberwolves have dropped seven of their last eight, and McHale was frustrated with their listless play over the first half of the season.
"Our effort level is just not there, and I said, 'Glen, it's on me,' and he said, 'Do something about it,'" McHale said, referring to owner Glen Taylor.
In more than nine seasons, Saunders posted a 411-326 record. He was hired on Dec. 18, 1995, taking over for Bill Blair. Last year, Saunders became the eighth person in NBA history to have coached his first 700 games with the same organization.
Only Jerry Sloan, who has coached the Utah Jazz since 1988, had a longer tenure than Saunders among current NBA coaches.
McHale has been with Minnesota since 1993, serving as a special assistant to the coaching staff, broadcast analyst, and assistant general manager before becoming vice president of basketball operations in May 1995.
Saunders' firing is the fifth coaching change in the NBA this season.
Source: AP
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