Indiana Pacers head Coach Frank Vogel has been dismissed from his post and will not get his contract renewed despite guiding the Herbert Simon-owned club to five NBA playoffs, the team's president of basketball operations announced on Thursday.

"Sometimes my job really sucks and this is one of them," Pacers president Larry Bird told reporters. "I just had time to think about it and watch the team throughout the year. I know a lot of you didn't expect us to make the playoffs, but I had a lot higher expectations. I just came to the conclusion that it was necessary for these guys to hear a new voice."

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Bird's decision to part ways with Vogel comes four days after the Pacers failed to become the sixth No. 7 seeded team to upset a No. 2 seed since the playoffs were expanded during the 1980s. Indiana bowed out to the Toronto Raptors in a close 89-84 defeat in Game seven.

With an expiring contract, the 42-year-old Vogel felt strongly that he is worthy of another chance. Bird said Vogel even asked on Thursday morning if the news conference could be postponed so they could talk. Bird refused, and Vogel did not immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press.

Vogel became the interim coach of Indiana after the Pacers fired head Coach Jim O'Brien in 2011. During his reign as interim coach, the Pensacola, Florida-native led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. He was officially named as the Pacers' head coach in July 2011.

In the succeeding season, Vogel guided Indiana to reach the East semifinals after beating Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers played in back-to-back conference finals showdown against the Miami Heat in 2013 and 2014. The Heat won the NBA champioship title both times.

Among the names already linked to the job are current Pacers assistant and former NBA head coach Nate McMillan, former Pacers player and Golden State coach Mark Jackson and former Pacers assistant and ex-Denver head coach Brian Shaw.

TagsNBA 2016, 2016 nba playoffs, Frank Vogel, larry bird, Indiana Pacers