The Minnesota Timberwolves sacked coach Randy Wittman and replaced him with Kevin McHale, the struggling NBA franchise said on Monday.

The club underwent a woeful 4-15 start this season, owner Glen Taylor put the onus on McHale in a statement outlining the former Celtics star's move from vice president of basketball operations to coach.

The Timberwolves had never enjoyed a winning season prior to the 1995 arrival of McHale, formerly a Hall of Fame forward with the Boston Celtics.

As an executive McHale built a team that reached the playoffs for eight straight seasons, including a run to the Western Conference finals in 2004.

Since the beginning of the 2005-06 campaign, the Timberwolves have posted a 91-174 record.

Wittman became the fourth NBA head coach to lose his job this season following the firings of PJ Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington) and Sam Mitchell (Toronto).

However, Wittman certainly was hindered by a young team that was overhauled in 2007, when McHale traded popular but disgruntled Kevin Garnett to Boston in exchange for five players and two draft picks.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2008)