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Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West today announced that after a successful 33-year basketball coaching career, Grizzlies Head Coach Hubie Brown is retiring. Grizzlies Assistant Coach Lionel Hollins has been named the team’s interim head coach.

“Unexpected health-related issues will not allow me to continue coaching the Memphis Grizzlies,” said Hubie Brown. “This situation was unforeseen and absolutely non-existent at the beginning of the season.”

Brown, who joined the team on November 12, 2002 as the sixth head coach in team history, coached the Grizzlies to an 83-85 (.494) record during his tenure. Last season, his first full season at the helm, Brown led the Grizzlies to one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history. Under his command, the Grizzlies won 50 games, shattered almost every team record and earned the team’s first-ever playoff berth. His 78-78 record through the 2003-04 season with the Grizzlies made him the only coach in team history to have a .500 record, becoming the winningest head coach in team history. After the outstanding 2003-04 season, Brown was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year, winning the award for the second time in his 15-year NBA career.

“This is an extremely sad day for me,” said Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West. “This franchise is by far better from the leadership and guidance of Hubie Brown, and we will be forever grateful to Hubie. Hubie has helped this team and organization receive the respect and stature it deserved. On a personal note, I had an incredible working relationship with him during our short time together, and his legacy will be felt by all of us.”

Brown’s coaching career spans 33 years, including 15 with the NBA, in which he led the New York Knicks to two playoff appearances during five seasons (1982-87), the Atlanta Hawks to three playoff appearances during five seasons (1976-81) and led the Kentucky Colonels to an ABA (American Basketball Association) Championship in 1975. He also spent 15 years as a highly regarded teacher at coaching clinics and as an NBA broadcast analyst for three television networks, was nominated for a Sports Emmy in 1994 and 1999 and received the Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Hollins takes over as the Grizzlies’ interim head coach for the second time in his career. He first joined the Grizzlies as the lead assistant in Vancouver during the team’s inaugural season in 1995-96. Hollins served that role for four and a half seasons before taking over as head coach midway through the 1999-00 NBA season. As Interim Head Coach, Hollins guided Vancouver to an 18-42 finish, 22-60 overall. In 2002-03, he returned to the Grizzlies to serve as assistant coach.

Hollins’ coaching experience includes seven years (1988-95) as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. While with the Suns, Phoenix compiled a 394-180 overall record, while posting 50 or more wins and reaching the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons. Phoenix also reached the 1993 NBA Finals, while winning two Pacific Division Titles in 1993 and 1995. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Arizona State University, where he served two years (1985-86, 1987-88) as an assistant coach.