Frank Vogel will not return as Indiana Pacers coach next season.
The team will not renew Vogel's contract for next season, cutting ties with a respected name in the coaching ranks, Pacers President Larry Bird said on Thursday.
"I know it's not going to be a 100 per cent popular move," Bird added. "But my responsibility is to do what's best for the franchise."
Vogel earned a 250-181 win-loss record in five-and-a-half seasons with the Pacers. He led the team to the playoffs five times, including a first-round loss to the Toronto Raptors this season.
The Pacers became known as one of the better defensive teams in the NBA under Vogel's leadership, but Bird said he started thinking it might be time for a change around the All-Star break in an effort to get a coach to breathe life into a sometimes-stagnant offense.
He called the decision to part ways with Vogel one of the toughest he's ever had to make in basketball. But Bird has long believed that players start to tune out a coach after three seasons, and Vogel lasted longer than that.
Vogel led Indiana to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and 2014. The only season Vogel did not lead Indiana to the playoffs was last year, when star forward Paul George broke his leg.
"He did fine, but it's all about motivating players and getting them to play at a higher level," Bird said.
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