The Toronto Raptors have fired coach Sam Mitchell, and assistant Jay Triano will take over as interim coach.
"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. "We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization, applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."
Mitchell was named the sixth head coach in Raptors history June 29, 2004. He posted a 156-189 (.452) record in his four-plus seasons. He won the Red Auerbach Trophy as the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2006-07 season, when he also won Sporting News' NBA Coach of the Year award in a vote among other head coaches.
