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Raptors fire coach Mitchell; Triano to take over

Thu 4th, December 2008

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Toronto Raptors fired head coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday, as announced by team president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," said Colangelo. "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."

Assistant coach Jay Triano will serve as interim head coach.

The Raptors, who sit at 8-9 on the young season, are in the midst of a three- game road trip that began with a 13-point loss to the Lakers on Sunday. But a 132-93 shellacking at the hands of Denver on Tuesday proved to be the breaking point for the Toronto brass.

In four-plus seasons as Raptors head coach, Mitchell posted a 156-189 record with two playoff appearances -- in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns, both ending in first-round exits. Mitchell also garnered Coach of the Year honors for the 2006-07 season when the Raptors finished with a franchise-record tying 47 wins.

Triano, who was the head coach of the Canadian men's national team from 1998-2004, is in his seventh season as a member of the Raptors' coaching staff.

Triano will debut as interim head coach on Friday, when Toronto visits Utah.