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http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/35719409.html?elr=KArksLckD8E
The Timberwolves fired head coach Randy Wittman this morning and replaced him with Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, but the big news out of Target Center is that McHale will relinquish his front-office duties to concentrate on coaching.
Owner Glen Taylor and McHale will announce the changes at a 2 p.m. Target Center press conference today.
It is not yet known if assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg, who was being groomed as McHale’s successor, will take over the team’s basketball operations on a permanent basis.
McHale, the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations hired in 1995, is the architect of a franchise that won two playoff series in future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s 12 seasons as a Timberwolf and then traded Garnett in July 2007 for five players and two draft picks in the NBA’s largest deal for a single player.
The Wolves are 26-75 in one-plus seasons since then. They are 4-15 this season after two lopsided losses Friday at New Jersey and Saturday at home to the Los Angeles Clippers.
McHale was expected to lead his first practice today at 11.
"Kevin has assembled the players on this team, and believes in their talent and skill level," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. "It is my expectation that Kevin will be able to get the most out of our team and our players in his new role as head coach."
The Wolves were 38-105 under Wittman. He coached one full season and parts of two others.
"There were certain goals and expectations that we had for this team at the start of the season, and we have not lived up to them," Taylor said.
"I am disappointed in our record and believe that we have more talent than our record indicates. A change had to be made and with three-fourths of the season remaining, there is still time to make substantial progess this year."
The Wolves (4-15) have the fourth-worst record in the NBA this season. They started last season 3-24 and were on pace for one of the worst records in NBA history. They finished the season 22-60, still the third-worst mark in the league in 2007-08.
McHale hired Wittman in January 2007 when he fired Dwane Casey with the Timberwolves at .500, 20-20. The Wolves went 12-30 the rest of the way and then in the summer of 2007 traded franchise player Kevin Garnett to Boston for Al Jefferson, four other players and draft picks.
McHale was 19-12 in 2005 when he took over coaching duties after he fired Flip Saunders.
The Timberwolves fired head coach Randy Wittman this morning and replaced him with Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, but the big news out of Target Center is that McHale will relinquish his front-office duties to concentrate on coaching.
Owner Glen Taylor and McHale will announce the changes at a 2 p.m. Target Center press conference today.
It is not yet known if assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg, who was being groomed as McHale’s successor, will take over the team’s basketball operations on a permanent basis.
McHale, the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations hired in 1995, is the architect of a franchise that won two playoff series in future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s 12 seasons as a Timberwolf and then traded Garnett in July 2007 for five players and two draft picks in the NBA’s largest deal for a single player.
The Wolves are 26-75 in one-plus seasons since then. They are 4-15 this season after two lopsided losses Friday at New Jersey and Saturday at home to the Los Angeles Clippers.
McHale was expected to lead his first practice today at 11.
"Kevin has assembled the players on this team, and believes in their talent and skill level," Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. "It is my expectation that Kevin will be able to get the most out of our team and our players in his new role as head coach."
The Wolves were 38-105 under Wittman. He coached one full season and parts of two others.
"There were certain goals and expectations that we had for this team at the start of the season, and we have not lived up to them," Taylor said.
"I am disappointed in our record and believe that we have more talent than our record indicates. A change had to be made and with three-fourths of the season remaining, there is still time to make substantial progess this year."
The Wolves (4-15) have the fourth-worst record in the NBA this season. They started last season 3-24 and were on pace for one of the worst records in NBA history. They finished the season 22-60, still the third-worst mark in the league in 2007-08.
McHale hired Wittman in January 2007 when he fired Dwane Casey with the Timberwolves at .500, 20-20. The Wolves went 12-30 the rest of the way and then in the summer of 2007 traded franchise player Kevin Garnett to Boston for Al Jefferson, four other players and draft picks.
McHale was 19-12 in 2005 when he took over coaching duties after he fired Flip Saunders.
