Warriors Oust Mark Jackson as Head Coach

Golden State Warriors fire coach Mark Jackson

Sam Amick
+USA TODAY Sports

(Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

The Golden State Warriors fired coach Mark Jackson Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition on anonymity because the firing had not been made public.

The Warriors were 51-31 this season and that was the best regular season record since the 1991-92, when they were 55-27. That was also the last time the Warriors reached the playoffs two consecutive seasons.

+TNT analyst Steve Kerr has yet to speak with the Warriors but likely has interest in the job, according to a person familiar with his situation.

Also interested in the job are former +Los Angeles Lakers and +New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and former +Los Angeles Clippers and +Portland Trail Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Jackson had one year left on his contract.

The team released a statement on the firing.

"Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we've had over the last couple of years," said Warriors owner and CEO Joe Lacob. "Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples. We wish Mark the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions over the last three years."

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Jackson, 49, became just the third head coach in franchise history to lead a team to at least 50 wins in a season, joining Don Nelson and Alvin Attles.

With 121 regular-season victories overall, Jackson ranks fourth on the franchise's all-time wins list, trailing Attles (557), Nelson (422) and Eddie Gottlieb (263). Additionally, the 98 regular-season wins posted over the past two seasons (51 in 2013-14 and 47 in 2012-13) represent the Warriors best two-year stretch since the team posted 99 victories combined in the 1990-91 (44) and 1991-92 (55) seasons.

"It's never easy to make a decision of this nature," said Golden State general manager Bob Myers. "Mark has accomplished many good things during his three years with the organization, including his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago. We're appreciative of his dedication and commitment since his arrival and are extremely grateful for his contributions. However, as an organization, we simply feel it's best to move in a different direction at this time."

Jackson had the support of his players as his team, the seventh seed in the Western Conference, pushed the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers to seven games in the opening round series.

"I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair," Warriors guard Steph Curry said after the team was eliminated by the Clippers. "And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (replacing him) were to happen."