P.J. Carlesimo was hired Thursday as the new coach of the SuperSonics, eight years after being fired from his last head coaching job and ending Seattle's search that lasted more than two months.

Carlesimo, who spent the past five years as an assistant in San Antonio, replaces Bob Hill, who was fired on April 24 after Seattle struggled to a 31-51 record in Hill's only full season leading the Sonics. Carlesimo previously coached the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors.