PHOENIX (AP) Frank Johnson was fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns after an 8-13 start to the season, a team source told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Suns said they would have a news conference but did not say why. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP an interim coach would be announced Wednesday but would not reveal his name.

Johnson replaced Scott Skiles as the Suns' coach late in the 2001-02 season, going 11-20 the rest of the way.

Last season, Johnson guided the team to a 44-38 record and a surprising playoff berth. The Suns lost to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Phoenix just returned from a road trip on which it went 1-3, including a loss against the Orlando Magic _ a team that had dropped its previous 19 straight games.

Overall, the Suns have lost six of their last seven games, despite a roster that includes point guard Stephon Marbury, and forwards Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.

Stoudemire, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, is expected to miss the next month with a sprained left ankle.

The Suns' job was Johnson's first as a head coach in the NBA; he was an assistant for the team for five seasons.

Johnson played 10 seasons in the league for Washington, Houston and Phoenix, retiring from the NBA in 1994.