Former Denver Nuggets Coach to Join SportsCenter Analyst Team

NEW YORK (AP) — George Karl is joining ESPN as a studio analyst.

Karl won the Coach of the Year award last season but then lost his job in Denver. He will debut Friday night on "SportsCenter" and also appear on other NBA programming on the network as part of a multiyear deal. He previously worked for ESPN as a studio analyst during the 2003-04 season.

Karl led the Nuggets to a 57-25 record last season. But Denver, unwilling to give him a contract extension, instead fired him with a year left on his contract. He says it will be difficult not being in a training camp this week. But Karl says he enjoyed his previous work in TV and hopes he can "maybe give some insights that coaches are really important in this game."