New Orleans Pelicans fire coach Monty Williams

Monty Williams has lost his job as the coach of NBA team the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 43-year-old had been in charge of the side for almost five years after getting his first coaching job in June 2010.

The team confirmed in a statement this afternoon that Williams had been fired, despite leading them to the playoffs in a fiercely contested Western Conference for the first time in four years.

New Orleans scraped into the top eight with a surprise victory over the San Antonio Spurs on the final day of the season, but they faced top seed the Golden State Warriors in the first round and lost the best-of-seven series 4-0.

"I have the utmost respect for Monty Williams, not only as a coach but as a person," Pelicans owner Tom Benson said.

"He represented our team, our organization and our city with tremendous class and dignity.

In his five seasons in charge of the Pelicans, former first-round pick Williams had a record of 173-221.