Saskatchewan Rush fire head coach Jeff McComb

The Saskatchewan Rush have fired head coach Jeff McComb, the National Lacrosse League team announced Saturday.

The organization has relieved McComb of his duties effective immediately, according to a news release.

Saskatchewan Rush general manager Derek Keenan and offensive coach Jimmy Quinlan will serve as associate head coaches until the end of the 2022 season. Defensive coach Jeremy Tallevi will continue as part of the coaching staff.

"Thirty years in this league and this is by far the hardest decision I've ever had to make," Keenan said in the release.

"It's clear we have not met expectations this year but it's not all on Jeff McComb. He's a great coach."

McComb joined the Rush coaching team in 2014, when the team was based in Edmonton, and became head coach in 2020, after Keenan stepped down from the role.

Due to the pandemic, though, his head coaching debut was delayed until December 2021.

Since 2014, he had helped to guide the club to three National Lacrosse League championships.

But during his first season as head coach, the Rush have struggled with four wins and 10 losses so far — their worst record since the team arrived in Saskatoon in 2016.

"Jeff has done the work that's expected of a head coach, but the team has not performed to the level of our expectations," said Keenan in the release.

"Jeff's been a huge part of our three championships and NLL dominance since then. As a friend, colleague, and on behalf of the Rush organization I thank him for his contributions to our success."

The expectations for the team were a lot higher than what they've achieved so far this season, Keenan said in an interview with CBC.

The team should be in a better spot in their division, he added.

"We and a lot of other people may