The Clippers will introduce Mike Dunleavy as their new coach during a news conference today at Staples Center, the team confirmed Thursday night. The deal completes a lengthy process to replace Alvin Gentry, who was fired March 3 with the team mired in last place in the Pacific Division.

Dennis Johnson served as the team's interim coach and was expected to be a fallback candidate if the team could not come to an agreement with Dunleavy, a former NBA player who also has coached the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers.

Johnson's status for next season is uncertain. He has been coaching the Clippers' summer league team at Long Beach State.

Terms of Dunleavy's deal with the Clippers were not immediately available.

Neither Dunleavy nor Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor could be reached for comment Thursday night. It's believed that Dunleavy sought a multi-season deal that also included assurances that the team would maintain its youthful and promising roster. It wasn't immediately clear whether Dunleavy received those promises from owner Donald Sterling.

Dunleavy emerged as a favorite for the Clipper job after a face-to-face meeting with Sterling in Los Angeles last month. He is believed to be the only candidate who met with Sterling personally.