Dunleavy will remain in the front office, focusing exclusively on the team's personnel matters.
Dunleavy will remain in the front office, focusing exclusively on the team's personnel matters.
Assistant coach Kim Hughes will immediately take over as interim head coach, and will retain the position through the remainder of the season.
The mutual decision came following a meeting at the club's Playa Vista Training Center.
"I've come to the conclusion that this is the ideal time for me to direct my efforts toward the many personnel opportunities that lie before us, such as the trade market, the Draft and the free agent process. We fully expect to be active and productive on all those fronts," Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy became the head coach of the Clippers in 2003 and led the club to a 28-54 mark that year. However, he would improve upon that mark in each of the next two seasons.
A 37-45 2004-05 season was followed by a 47-35 mark the next season, which was good for second in the Pacific Division. The team lost in the Western Conference semifinals in its first playoff appearance in nine seasons.
The Clippers' record dropped every year from that point on, culminating with a miserable 19-63 record last season.
Entering play Thursday, the Clippers held a 21-28 record.
"We fully agree with Mike that this is the right time to make this change," Los Angeles president Andy Roeser said. "It just seems clear that the team needs a fresh voice and we hope that our players will respond in a positive way. As we approach the trade deadline, the NBA Draft and the upcoming free agent period, our team is very well-positioned from a salary cap standpoint. Mike's experienced input will be vitally important as we continue to develop our young talented nucleus and shape our teams future."
Dunleavy coached a Clippers record 540 games, accumulating a 215-325 record. He is the all-time franchise leader in wins with 215, and has coached the 15th most games in NBA history (1,329).
Hughes has been a Clippers assistant for seven seasons after spending the previous five years with the Denver Nuggets. Hughes also spent seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks as a head and regional scout.
A member of the 1975-76 ABA All-Rookie First Team with the Nets, Hughes played six years in the NBA and ABA and also played professionally in Italy.
