MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, August 10, 2009 (AFP) - The Minnesota Timberwolves have tabbed Kurt Rambis to become the ninth head coach in the 20-year history of the NBA ball club.

"After a six-week search and thorough interview process, I feel that in Kurt Rambis we have found the best person to lead and develop our young team as head coach,"

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said Monday. "Kurt is talented and hard-working, and his many years in the NBA as a player, administrator and coach have prepared him well for this opportunity."

Rambis agreed in principle to terms of a contract and was to be formally introduced as the team's head coach on Tuesday.

Rambis played with the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s, and spent nine seasons in total with the club.

He was a member of four NBA championship teams with Los Angeles, and also played with Charlotte, Phoenix and Sacramento in a 14-year NBA career.

The 51-year-old had been an assistant with the Lakers for 10 seasons, helping the team to NBA titles in 2002 and 2009.

He also compiled a 24-13 record as interim head coach during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign following the dismissal of Del Harris.

Rambis was a finalist for the head coaching vacancy in Sacramento and interviewed for the same position in Philadelphia.

In Minnesota he'll take over from Kevin McHale, who was sacked in June after he had moved from an executive position to the bench following Randy Wittman's dismissal in early December.

The Wolves finished just 24-58 last season.