Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins has informed ownership that he will resign at season's end, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Collins, 62, has one year left on a four-year deal, but has told management he won't return to the sidelines. Collins' possible return to the franchise in another role – perhaps in the front office – hasn't been ruled out, a source said.

Ownership wanted him to return for the final season of a contract that would've paid him $4.5 million, one source said, but Collins informed owner Josh Harris of his decision to leave in recent days.

A 76ers spokesman couldn't be reached for comment on Sunday night.

The Sixers are 33-47 and in ninth place in the East.

After reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals a year ago – and trading for All-Star center Andrew Bynum over the summer – the Sixers had hopes of challenging the conference elite this season. Yet the season derailed when recurring knee problems cost Bynum the entire season, ultimately leaving the Sixers with nothing to show for trading Andre Igoudala and promising young players, Nik Vucevic and Moe Harkless.

[Also: Lakers hope Kobe Bryant can return for start of 2013-14 season]

With Collins leaving and organization president Rod Thorn likely to move into a consultant's role at season's end, the Sixers organization will be in flux. General manager Tony DiLeo was promoted into his job a year ago, but it's unclear if ownership will stay with him or seek to hire an ultimate decision-maker over him.

[Also: With Kobe out, Dwight Howard becomes the man for the Lakers]

Philadelphia was the fourth stop of Collins' NBA coaching career that included Chicago, Detroit and Washington. Collins' son Chris was recently hired as the head coach at Northwestern University.

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