SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The San Jose Sharks, who are last in the Pacific Division a season after winning the first division title in team history, announced Sunday they had fired Coach Darryl Sutter.
General Manager Dean Lombardi made the surprising announcement after the Sharks were beaten by Phoenix on Saturday to fall to 8-12-2-2.
"Darryl was an integral part of the growth of this team the past five seasons. This was not an easy decision to make," Lombardi said. "We felt strongly that this team should be playing better and was not performing at a level that we have come to expect. The degree to which we have struggled was a big factor in this decision."
Also dismissed were assistant coaches Rich Preston and Lorne Molleken. Pro scout Cap Raeder and director of pro development Doug Wilson will share coaching duties until Sutter's successor is named.
Sutter, 44, leaves as the most successful coach in team history with a 302-262-86 record. Last season, he guided the Sharks to the Pacific Division title and a first-round playoff victory over Phoenix.
But San Jose squandered a three games to two lead in the Western Conference semifinals against Colorado and has not gotten past the second round in its 11-year history.
