Kevin McHale agrees to navigate Houston Rockets

Former Boston Celtics great and Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale will next try his hand at coaching the Houston Rockets.

The former Boston Celtics stalwart Kevin McHale has confirmed he will become the new coach of the Houston Rockets.

The value of McHale's three-year contract with the Rockets was not disclosed. The pact includes an option for a fourth season, according to the NBA's website.

McHale's most recent NBA job was as the general manger of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That followed a decorated playing career with the Celtics from 1980-93. He was elected to the basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. McHale's announcement will end his recent stint as a television broadcaster and return him to the sidelines, where he stepped in for the final 63 games of the 2008/09 Timberwolves season. He previously had another stretch as the club's interim coach during the 2004/05 campaign.

"I had really wanted to coach again," McHale told nba.com. "You miss the competition when you're away from it.

"This was a chance. It came up, I talked to them. After spending time with them, I felt this is a good situation to get involved in."

McHale, 53, expects to be introduced by the Rockets at a news conference in Houston tomorrow.

Rick Adelman departed the Rockets days after completing his fourth season at coach.

The Rockets have missed the play-offs for two straight seasons, in part because of the repeated injuries suffered by the former All-Star centre Yao Ming.