Thunder fire coach Carlesimo

Nov 22, 2008 - 3:43 PM OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) - Just 13 games into the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach P.J. Carlesimo.

Reports of the dismissal began to surface after Friday's 105-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets, and the club made the move official Saturday morning. The team also announced that assistant coach Paul Westhead has been relieved of his duties.

Thunder assistant coach Scott Brooks will take over for Carlesimo on an interim basis.

"This was a very difficult decision to make," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. "It is one that I felt was necessary at this time. I am very appreciative of the hard work and effort that P.J. gave to this team and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Oklahoma City, in its inaugural season after relocating from Seattle, has lost 10 straight games en route to a league-worst 1-12 record.

Known as the SuperSonics last season - Carlesimo's first with the franchise - the team went 20-62. There are reports that the organization actually considered firing Carlesimo over the summer, but decided to give him one more shot.

The first NBA coach to lose his job this campaign, Carlesimo has amassed a 204-296 career record in parts of eight seasons on the bench with the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and the Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise.

He made playoff appearances during each of his three seasons in Portland (1995-97), but has never won a postseason series.

The 59-year-old also coached Seton Hall for 13 seasons, leading the team to the 1989 national championship game where it lost to Michigan.

Brooks, an assistant with the Sacramento Kings last year, played 11 seasons (1988-99) in the NBA and was a member of the 1994 world champion Houston Rockets.

Prior to joining the Kings, he served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets from 2003-06.

Brooks, 43, will make his debut Saturday night in New Orleans when the Thunder face the Hornets again.