Kevin McHale makes it official, will coach Houston Rockets

MIAMI (AP) � It's official: Hall of Famer Kevin McHale is headed to Houston.

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  By Ann Heisenfelt, AP

  Kevin McHale will leave his job as an NBA television analyst to coach the Houston Rockets.

By Ann Heisenfelt, AP

Kevin McHale will leave his job as an NBA television analyst to coach the Houston Rockets.

Confirming numerous reports over the past couple of days, McHale said Tuesday night he has agreed to become the Rockets' next coach. The former Boston Celtics great takes over for Rick Adelman, who left the team days after his fourth season in Houston ended.

"I was a little uncertain whether I was going to jump in with both feet ? I wanted it to be the right situation ? but after spending time with them, I felt this is a good situation to get involved in," McHale told NBA.com before Game 1 of the NBA finals.

McHale's first coaching experience came when he took over the Timberwolves for the last 31 games of the 2005 season after he fired Flip Saunders. The long-time Minnesota executive went back to the front office after that, then returned to coach in 2008 after Randy Wittman was fired.

McHale, 53, went 20-43 after taking over that season before the Timberwolves let him go. He had been working as a TV analyst.

"Kevin's experiences as a player, coach and general manager, coupled with his tremendous knowledge of the game and players, made him a terrific analyst for NBA TV and TNT," Turner Sports President David Levy said in a release. "Our audience will miss his diverse perspective and terrific sense of humor. We wish Kevin the best of luck in his new role as head coach of the Houston Rockets."

Houston has missed the playoffs the last two years as it dealt with injuries that have limited All-Star center Yao Ming�(FSY)��� to just five games since 2008-09. That season Houston reached the Western Conference semifinals, breaking a streak of seven consecutive first-round exits for the franchise.

Yao's contract expires this summer, but he has said he hopes to continue playing for the Rockets when he recovers from the stress fracture to his left ankle.

McHale was the third overall pick in the 1980 draft, won three championships with the Celtics and was honored as one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time in 1996.

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