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Warriors' Coach Montgomery to Leave Team

9:53 AM PDT, August 29, 2006

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors and head coach Mike Montgomery parted ways, the team announced Tuesday.

Montgomery, who presided over two losing seasons in Oakland, and the Warriors "mutually agreed" to the move, said team vice president Chris Mullin.

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"Based on this agreement, we will now focus our efforts in a different direction and do what we think is in the best interest for this team," Mullin said in a statement.

The Warriors didn't release any details on Montgomery's severance package.

Montgomery, 59, had two years remaining on a 4-year, $10 million contract he signed before the 2004-2005 season.

Montgomery compiled identical 34-48 records in his two seasons with the Warriors. Before joining the team, he was head coach at Stanford University for 18 years and led the Cardinal to 16 NCAA post-season appearances and a trip to the 1998 Final Four.

"This was a new challenge that I was eager to embrace and glad that I had the chance to pursue and experience," Montgomery said in a statement.

The team scheduled a news conference Wednesday evening at the Oakland Arena to make a "major announcement."