Timberwolves fire Coach Kevin McHale

MINNEAPOLIS, June 17 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have decided to dump Coach Kevin McHale.

McHale assumed the duties last season when Randy Wittman was fired after the Timberwolves opened with a 4-15 record. He was the team's president of basketball operations, a job filled on May 22 by David Kahn.

The Timberwolves finished the 2008-09 season with a 24-58 mark and missed the playoffs a fifth straight time.

"I was willing to come back, but they never offered me a contract," McHale, 51, told the Saint Paul Pioneer Press following a meeting Tuesday night with Kahn and team owner Glen Taylor. "They told me last week they were going in a different direction. I said I think you're making a mistake, but that's up to you guys."

Kahn told the Pioneer Press that when he was hired Taylor gave him authority to retain or dismiss McHale.

The three-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics during a 13-year playing career said he has not made plans for his future.