Charlotte Bobcats Fire Coach Mike Dunlap

Chris Chambers/Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) -- The Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday fired head coach Mike Dunlap after just one season. The team finished with the second-worst record in the NBA, at 21-61.

“(General Manager) Rich Cho and I conducted our season-ending review and met with Coach Dunlap to reflect on this season. As an organization, it was decided that we needed to make a change with the head coach position," Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins said. “We want to thank Mike for his contribution and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The 55-year-old Dunlap had been working as an assistant with St. John’s when the Bobcats hired him last June. He became the first person to make the jump from  assistant college coach to NBA head coach.

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Bobcats Stop Celtic's Streak

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) -- The Boston Celtics were fresh off a thrilling victory at home, but couldn't continue the fun on the road.

Byron Mullens had 25 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Charlotte Bobcats past the weary Celtics, 94-91 on Monday.

The Celtics (27-24) had won seven straight coming into Monday after losing Rajon Rondo for the season. They held a late lead but could not hold out Monday.

"We wanted finish out the rest of these games going into the (All-Star) break. So it's definitely a letdown. This one hurts more because we had the lead with one minute to go," Celtics guard Courtney Lee said.

Charlotte (12-39) was paced by a career night from Mullens, the four-year veteran. "We need that from him. We need that from Byron and he can do it, Bobcats guard Kemba Walker said. "We know he can do it every night. He is very capable. When he has big games like that, you know, I think that gives us a much better chance."

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Bobcats Introduce Dunlap As New Head Coach

Chris Chambers/Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) -- The Charlotte Bobcats introduced St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap as their new head coach Wednesday.  He will take over a team that went a dismal 7-59 last season under Paul Silas.

“Mike Dunlap embodies the characteristics we were seeking in a head coach,” said Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins. “He is renowned in basketball circles as a teacher, developer of talent, communicator and collaborator. His energy and work ethic are endless, and we are excited to have him in charge of our team.”

Dunlap spent two seasons (2006-08) as an assistant head coach in Denver.

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St. John's: Mike Dunlap Hired as New Bobcats Head Coach

National Basketball Association(NEW YORK) -- St. John's assistant men's basketball coach Mike Dunlap has been hired as the Charlotte Bobcats head coach, the University said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard was told by NBA sources that the Bobcats will make an official announcement Wednesday at a press conference in Charlotte.

Dunlap has never been a head coach in Division I college ball or the NBA, but he did coach the Red Storm last season once head coach Steve Lavin took a leave of absence to deal with prostate cancer.

"The Johnnies basketball family is ecstatic for Coach Dunlap's opportunity. Mike's selection as the Charlotte Bobcats' head coach is a well-deserved honor," Lavin said in a statement. "To make the unprecedented jump from college assistant to NBA head coach is testament to both Mike's abilities as a teacher and our basketball program's marked improvement over the past 27 months."

Dunlap has over 30 years of coaching experience between college and the pros. He has been assistant coach at Oregon and Arizona. He is also a two-time Division II national champion and Coach of the Year.

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