Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy glares at his team after giving up the lead against the... 
(AP)
Mike Dunleavy stepped down as the Los Angeles Clippers' head coach Thursday, retaining his job as general manager.
Assistant coach Kim Hughes will be the interim replacement for Dunleavy, who has led the Clippers to just one winning season since taking over the star-crossed franchise in 2003.
The Clippers abruptly announced the moves in an afternoon news release, saying the decision was voluntary and mutual. Los Angeles (21-28) has lost five of six heading into Saturday's home game against San Antonio, with another once-promising season in danger of slipping away.
"It just seems clear that the team needs a fresh voice, and we hope that our players will respond in a positive way," Clippers president Andy Roeser said in a statement.
Despite a talented roster including Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and Marcus Camby, the Clippers are in 12th place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles dropped a season-worst seven games under .500 with six losses on a just-completed eight-game road trip.
Perhaps the Clippers Curse has a bit to do with it as well: Blake Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in last summer's draft, will miss the entire season after breaking his kneecap in Los Angeles' final preseason game.
Dunleavy, who said he had "several conversations" recently with owner Donald Sterling about the Clippers' direction, is the winningest coach in franchise history — admittedly not a high bar to clear on a team with just two winning seasons in 30 years and only one playoff series victory since moving to Los Angeles in 1984.
"I've come to the conclusion that this is the ideal time for me to direct my efforts toward the many personnel opportunities that lie before us, such as the trade market, the draft and the free agent process," said Dunleavy, who added GM duties to his coaching responsibilities in 2008. "We fully expect to be active and productive on all those fronts."
