MILWAUKEE -- Del Harris resigned as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday and named assistant Frank Hamblen his replacement.
Harris will remain the club's vice president of basketball operations.
Under Harris this season, the Bucks are 8-9. In more than four years of coaching Milwaukee, he compiled a 191-154 record.
'The bottom line is that in today's NBA I believe that it is most difficult for one person to fulfill the dual role of head of basketball operations and head coach,' said Harris.
'Since I felt it necessary to choose one, I have decided to let the one go that I know I can do well and pursue the other which I hope I can do well.'
Hamblen will next coach the Bucks Thursday night at home against the New Jersey Nets.
Harris took over as Bucks' head coach during the 1987-88 season. In his only other NBA coaching job, he took the Houston Rockets to the NBA finals in the 1980-81 season. He coached Houston from 1979-83.
Hamblen had been a Milwaukee assistant since Harris arrived in 1987. He began his career as a scout with the San Diego Rockets and worked for the Denver Nuggets in 1972 as assistant coach and director of player personnel. He joined the Kansas City Kings as an assistant in 1987 and stayed with them through their move to Sacramento, until leaving to join the Bucks.
'I'm happy to be able to pass on this opportunity to Frank and know that he will use his wealth of experience to bring out the best in our basketball team,' said Harris.
