The Calgary Roughnecks fired head coach Chris Hall following last night's home loss to Toronto, the club's third defeat in succession.

Hall had been the longest-tenured coach in the National Lacrosse League, midway through his sixth season with the Roughnecks.

General manager Kurt Silcott will coach the team on an interim basis, beginning with tonight's game at Toronto.

In announcing Hall's dismissal, team owner Brad Banister cited the Roughnecks' dismal performance in the 12-9 loss to Toronto, during which the Rock held leads of 8-2 and 12-6.

Our performance against Toronto was awful," Banister said. "The Rock was all over us and we did not respond in a way a professional sports team should."

"It's a trait I've seen develop as the season progresses," Banister added, noting the Roughnecks' 2-3 home record this season. "The team is just not motivated."

Calgary is currently 4-4, third in the six-team Western Division. If the playoffs began now, the Roughnecks would be in, but they have fallen well off the pace set by division-leading Colorado (8-1).

"If we are to make the playoffs -- and, if this club is to survive, we have no choice but to make the playoffs -- we must start winning again, and particularly on home turf."

Hall became the Roughnecks' coach in September 2001, leading up to the team's debut season. He compiled a regular-season record of 46-42, and his 3-3 postseason mark includes an NLL championship in 2004.

"Chris is a class guy and an outstanding coach," Banister said. "He was absolutely huge for us in our early years, and I'm quite happy to admit that he saved us back when we were going through some desperate times."

"But that was then and this is now, and everyone connected with the club -- owners, players, staff , fans, etcetera -- knows changes have to be made."

"At the end of the day, the name of the game is winning -- and we aren't winning."

Hall's firing leaves forward Kaleb Toth as the only person remaining in the organization who was on the bench for the Roughnecks' first-ever game, in November 2001.