Hughes plans to have Clippers run more

Mike Dunleavy walked into Kim Hughes’ office at the Los Angeles Clippers’ practice facility on Wednesday, told his longtime assistant he was stepping down as coach and asked if he’d like to take over.

“He said it’s the right time,” Hughes said. “I said OK, I would take the job.”

And just like that the Clippers switched coaches. Saddled with a 21-28 record and stuck in 12th place in the Western Conference the team announced the move in a statement, saying the decision was mutual. Dunleavy will remain the team’s general manager.

“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,” Dunleavy said in the statement. “We fully expect to be active and productive on all those fronts.”

Hughes has never been a head coach, but has filled in for Dunleavy on occasion. He has been on the Clippers’ staff since Dunleavy took over as coach in 2003.

The Clippers began the season with playoff hopes, but promptly lost their first four games. No. 1 pick Blake Griffin(notes) has yet to play a game and will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left kneecap in the preseason. The Clippers just returned home from an eight-game trip in which they won only twice.

“It is a challenge but I’m not afraid of it,” Hughes told Yahoo! Sports. “We’ve had chemistry problems. We have to get on the same page. Maybe with a different voice, it will be different.”

Hughes said the Clippers will run the floor more to “accentuate” the strengths of point guard Baron Davis(notes).

Clippers center Marcus Camby(notes) said he thinks Hughes will make a “terrific” coach.

“I think guys really like playing for Kim,” said Camby, who knows Hughes from their days together in Denver. “When Mike has stepped out and Kim has taken his place, guys were much more relaxed with him and played well.”

Asked about his chances of retaining the head-coaching job on a full-time basis, Hughes said, “probably bleak. But it depends on how we play.”

“I feel bad for Mike,” Hughes said. “He’s a friend. He taught me a lot. He told me that if you can’t get it together the coach will always go. But I’m not afraid of a challenge.”