DENVER, Colorado, Jan 27 (AFP) - George Karl, who has won more than 700 games in 16 seasons as a National Basketball Association coach, was named coach of the NBA's Denver Nuggets here on Thursday.
Karl replaced interim coach Michael Cooper, who returns to an assistant coaching role after guiding the Nuggets for the past month.
The Nuggets fired Jeff Bzdelik a month ago after a six-game losing streak that dropped Denver to 13-15. Bzedelik went 17-65 two seasons ago but Denver won 43 games and reached the playoffs last year for the first time since 1995.
Karl has guided clubs to five division titles, reached the NBA semi-finals with Seattle in 1993 and Milwaukee in 2001 and the NBA Finals with Seattle in 1996.
The 53-year-old American is also well-versed in international coaching. Karl guided Real Madrid of the Spanish League from 1989 to 1992.
He also guided the first US team of NBA players to lose in global competition at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis as the Americans lost to Spain, Yugoslavia and Argentina.
Karl has a 708-499 career NBA record since making his coaching debut with Cleveland from 1984 to 1986. He also coached at Golden State from 1986 to 1988, Seattle from 1991 to 1998 and Milwaukee from 1998 to 2003.
"We are very excited to be adding a coach of Georges stature to our organization," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "He has won everywhere he has been and his track record speaks for itself."
Karl played five seasons for the San Antonio Spurs from 1973 to 1978.
01/27/2005 19:20 GMT - AFP