Kings oust interim coach, reach deal to hire new head coach

After the Sacramento Kings announced Thursday the dismissal of interim coach Tyrone Corbin, George Karl and the team reached agreement on a reported four-year, $15 million contract.

The Kings said in a release that a press conference introducing Karl will be scheduled when the agreement is finalized.

Karl, currently serving as an ESPN basketball analyst, did not comment on the move. He was attending a funeral service for former North Carolina head coach Dean Smith on Thursday.

The Kings went 7-21 under Tyrone Corbin. He replaced the fired Mike Malone in December.

Corbin will remain with the Kings as an advisor to the front office.

“I have the utmost respect for Tyrone as a coach and person,” Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro said. “He’s a man of great integrity, a consummate professional that managed a difficult situation with class and professionalism. I look forward to continuing to work with Tyrone moving forward.”

Karl, who has survived multiple bouts with cancer, last coached in 2012-13. He was the NBA Coach of the Year that season and is currently sixth in league history with 1,131 victories.

Critical to the Kings’ success is extracting consistent play from center DeMarcus Cousins, who had a close relationship with Malone and was never on board with Corbin. According to reports, Corbin was informed this week would be his last with the Kings.

He said Tuesday after a 104-86 loss at Chicago that the Kings were doing their best.

“All of (us) got thrown into this. To the best of our ability, we try to get it done. Work with what we have and try to leave the least amount of excuses possible,” Cousins said.

Karl has coached the Cavaliers, Sonics, Warriors, Bucks and Nuggets.