NBA: George Karl Out As Head Coach Of The Denver Nuggets

A new job has opened up in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) coaching carousel as the Denver Nuggets have parted ways with George Karl, this year's Coach of the Year award winner, after nine seasons with the team.

It's a sad day for me, my staff and my family," tweeted Karl. "Difficult decision to understand but memories with the Nuggets are the best I've ever had."

Karl's departure comes on the heels of Masai Ujiri, the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year, leaving the organization to join the Toronto Raptors to become their executive vice president of basketball operations.

"So we lost a GM now a coach what's next!?" tweeted Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried.

Karl, 62, joined the Nuggets in 2005, guiding them to the playoffs each year, including a Western Conference Final appearance in 2009. The Nuggets went 57-25 this season, Karl's best franchise record, but was knocked out of the postseason by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference first round, marking the eighth time he was eliminated in the opening phase of the playoffs.

Karl has complied 1,131 victories as an NBA head coach, including a .599 winning percentage.

The Nuggets plan to reach out to Memphis Grizzlies coach, Lionel Hollins, and Indiana Pacers associate head coach, Brian Shaw, according to Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski.

Hollins has also drawn interest from the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Memphis has granted the Clippers permission to interview Hollins but denied the Nets' request.

Brooklyn had gotten permission from the Pacers to interview Shaw, who is also a popular candidate drawing attention from the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers for their open coaching jobs.

Thus far, the Phoenix Suns (Jeff Hornacek), Charlotte Bobcats (Steve Clifford), Atlanta Hawks (Mike Budenholzer), and Milwaukee Bucks (Larry Drew) have hired new coaches to helm their teams.