New Orleans Pelicans Fire Head Coach Monty Williams

The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Monty Williams after five seasons. Williams, who led the Pelicans to two playoff berths, had a 173-221 record as head coach.

“I have the utmost respect for Monty Williams, not only as a coach but as a person. He represented our team, our organization and our city with tremendous class and dignity. Gayle and I grew very fond of Monty and his wife Ingrid and of course their five beautiful children. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward,” Pelicans owner Tom Benson said via the team’s official website.

In the same press release, Mickey Loomis, executive vice president, and Dell Demps, senior vice president of basketball operations and general manager, also thanked Williams for his contributions to the team.

Williams, who played in the league 1994-2003 for five NBA clubs, was an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers before taking the head coaching position in New Orleans. Williams also served as one of the assistant coaches for the championship USA squad in the 2014 FIBA World Cup of Basketball in Spain.

Behind Williams and superstar big man Anthony Davis, the Pelicans qualified for the 2014-15 postseason with a 45-37 win-loss record. New Orleans struggled with the injury bug for most of the season as Davis missed 14 games, starting point guard Jrue Holiday missed 42 games and Eric Gordon missed 21 games.

New Orleans was swept in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.