Kings fire head coach Malone

Dec 15, 2014 - 11:16 PM Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Malone, the team announced on Monday.

The news came as a bit of a shock considering Malone's relative success in one-plus seasons at the helm in Sacramento and his previous relationship with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.

"This was an extremely difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the franchise moving forward," said general manager Pete D'Alessandro."

After compiling a 28-54 record last season, the Kings are 11-13 entering Monday in a competitive Western Conference despite star center DeMarcus Cousins missing the last nine games with a viral infection. They were 9-6 before Cousins was sidelined.

"Michael made significant contributions to the organization on many levels and helped foster cultural changes that positively impacted our team."

Tyrone Corbin will coach the Kings on an interim basis. Corbin, Malone's lead assistant, spent the last four seasons as head coach of the Jazz. He coached Utah to a playoff appearance in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season but left the Jazz with a 112-146 record.

The Kings haven't made the playoffs since 2005-06, which was also the last time they had a winning record.