The Seattle Storm announced Thursday that they have parted ways with coach Jenny Boucek after two-plus seasons.

"I believe new leadership is needed at this time to give our team the best chance at short and long term success," Storm president and general manager Alisha Valavanis said in a statement. "I am grateful for the passion and commitment Jenny has demonstrated throughout her time with the Seattle Storm. She has been an important part of our organization and we wish her well in the next steps of her career."

Jenny Boucek led the Storm to one playoff appearance and a 36-58 overall record in her two-plus seasons in Seattle., AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

The Storm are 10-16 this season, tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WNBA with eight games to play.

Boucek, who was named head coach on Jan. 20, 2015, led the Storm to one playoff appearance in her first two seasons in Seattle, losing to the Atlanta Dream in the first round in 2016. She was 36-58 overall for the team. She was associate head coach with the Storm before that under Brian Agler. Boucek was also the head coach of the Sacramento Monarchs from 2007 to 2009.

Gary Kloppenburg, a 14-year coaching veteran in the WNBA, has been named the interim head coach, effective immediately.

Kloppenburg last was a head coach in Tulsa in 2012-13. He's spent the past few years as an assistant, with Los Angeles and Indiana before Seattle. He also was an assistant for the Storm from 2000 to 2002 under Lin Dunn.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report