Two sources confirmed to ClutchCity.net Thursday that Rockets owner Les Alexander is relieving 11-year Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich of his head coaching duties, is looking to move him to the front office and is seeking a new head coach.

Tomjanovich is currently battling bladder cancer, but it has not been communicated to me as having been his decision.

The Rockets owner met with the assistant coaching staff this week to let them know they would have a chance to interview and stay on in Houston with the new head coach. That new head coach reportedly will still work with Carroll Dawson, so what Rudy T's title and role will be in the front office is unknown.

So who will be the new head coach?

Both sources stated that former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy has been talking with Alexander about the position, and speculated that he is the frontrunner for the job. Van Gundy is also in the final interviews for the Cleveland position, and since the Cavs just won the LeBron James sweepstakes, this could change things. Watch out also for Sixers coach Larry Brown, who was mentioned to us as a strong possibility during the season, and he is not a shoe-in to be back in Philadelphia.

Either way, it's a sad day for diehard Rockets fans. Tomjanovich took over the Rockets from Don Chaney during the 1991-1992 season, and led them to 55 wins the very next season, followed by two straight championships. "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" was his tagline, and he had the entire city believing every year in his Rockets, through good times and bad times. Free agents loved his laid back "one of the guys" style, and desired to play for him.