Report: Rockets coach Kevin McHale to take leave of absence

Rockets head coach Kevin McHale is taking a leave of absence to deal with a family issue. (Allen Einstein/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale is taking a leave of absence to attend to a personal matter and assistant Kelvin Sampson will coach the team, reports the Houston Chronicle. 

No details were made available to the length of the leave of absence or why McHale is taking time off from the team. McHale is in his second season with the Rockets compiling a 34-32 record last season.

“Kevin is a devoted family man who is needed back home in Minnesota at the moment,” said Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said in a release. “The Rockets organization will keep Kevin and his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Sampson, a former coach at the University of Oklahoma, is also in his second season with the team. Sampson's first game as coach will be tonight when the Rockets start a three-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons.