SEATTLE -- George Karl, who has coached two NBA teams and was most recently working in Spain, Thursday was named coach of the Seattle SuperSonics.
His first game with the Sonics was to come hours later when Seattle played at home that night against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bob Kloppenburg, the interim coach after K.C. Jones was fired last week, will remain with team as an assistant coach, along with Gary Wortman.
'George is a great motivator and has a good rapport with his players,' Sonics President Bob Whitsitt said in announcing the hiring. 'He is a strong teacher and a solid X's and O's man.'
Karl, 40, arrived in Seattle Wednesday night and met with Whitsitt early Thursday morning.
Karl coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1984-86 and the Golden State Warriors from 1986-88. He coached the Warriors through 64 games of the 1987-88 season. Karl was the runner-up for the NBA Coach of the Year in 1987 and was third in 1985. His NBA record is 119-176.
Karl's most recent coaching job was with Real Madrid in Spain, where his team was 17-7 this year in one phase of competition and 6-1 in the other.
He coached the CBA's Albany Patroons to a 50-6 regular-season record in 1991, an .893 winning percentage that is the best in CBA or NBA history.
