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Sonics fire coach Bob Hill, remove Sund as general manager

The Associated Press

The Seattle Sonics began remodeling their basketball operations on Tuesday, firing head coach Bob Hill and removing Rick Sund as general manager following one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

Seattle went 31-51 in Hill’s only full season as head coach, the Sonics’ worst record since the 1985-86 season when they finished with an identical record. Only three times in the Sonics’ 40-year history have they finished with a worse record.

Hill’s contract was set to expire in June. The team said Sund will remain with the team as a consultant during the final year of his contract.

Sonics’ majority owner Clay Bennett and vice chairman Lenny Wilkens will lead the search for replacements in both positions.

“Bob Hill and Rick Sund are fine individuals of excellent personal character and are basketball men through and through. They were both extremely helpful to us during this challenging year of transition. We are sincerely appreciative to them for their service and we wish them only the very best,” Bennett said in a statement. “