The Albuquerque Thunderbirds today announced Coach Michael Cooper would leave the team to rejoin the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks as its head coach.

"I would like to thank the Thunderbirds fans for supporting me and the team," Cooper said in a statement released this afternoon.

Cooper, a five-time NBA champion as a player and a former Lobos star, led the Thunderbirds to the NBA Development League championship last season in the team's inaugural campaign. He will continue to coach the Thunderbirds for the team's final three games as they push to reach the playoffs.

While leaving his coaching spot, Cooper will retain a role as Thunderbirds' minority owner and is expected to remain a "visible presence" with the team, the franchise said in a news release.

Cooper returns to the Sparks, where he guided the team to two WNBA championships and was WNBA coach of the year in 2001.