The Ducks announced today that Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the regular season. Head coach Randy Carlyle has been relieved of his duties. Anaheim will name a new head coach following the 2018-19 season.

"We thank Randy for everything he has done for the organization," said Murray. "Leading the team to a Stanley Cup and three conference final appearances, he has accomplished so much in Anaheim. Difficult decisions need to be made when times are tough, and our play has clearly been unacceptable. We have a tradition of success in Anaheim and we need to get back to that."

The winningest coach in Ducks history, Carlyle led Anaheim to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 and three appearances in the Western Conference Final (2006, 2007, 2017). Carlyle led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of eight of his full seasons with the team. He owned a 46-37 postseason record with Anaheim, and ranks 27th all-time in playoff wins as a head coach with 49. Originally named the seventh head coach in team history on Aug. 1, 2005, Carlyle went 384-256-96 in 736 games with the Ducks.

Carlyle is the only person in National Hockey League (NHL) history to play 1,000 career NHL games and serve as head coach for 900-or-more contests (1,055 games played/924 games coached). With Anaheim and Toronto, Carlyle posted a 475-334-115 all-time record behind the bench. Among all-time NHL coaches, Carlyle ranked 33rd in games coached and 29th in victories.

A three-time finalist for NHL General Manager of the Year (won in 2013-14), Murray has posted a 509-374-130 record in 1,013 NHL games as General Manager for Anaheim and Chicago. Murray is the longest serving and winningest GM in club history with a 445-279-101 record in 825 games. As a player, Murray appeared in 1,008 NHL games (all with Chicago), scoring 132-382=514 points. He is the fifth person in NHL history to both play and manage (GM) 1,000 career regular season NHL games.

Signed to a two-year contract extension with Anaheim through the 2021-22 NHL season on Dec. 8, 2018, Murray has led the Ducks to the playoffs the last six consecutive seasons (only Pittsburgh has a longer streak) and five consecutive 100+ point seasons (NHL's longest active streak). The Ducks are the only Western Conference team to play in the Conference Finals in two of the last four seasons and have won a conference-leading 31 playoff games since 2014.

Video: Murray on relieving Carlyle of his coaching duties