Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was fired on Friday, less than two weeks after they made yet another first-round exit from the NBA playoffs.

The Rockets went 52-30 this season but lost to the Utah Jazz in seven games, raising the possibility Van Gundy was going to resign or be dismissed. This was the Rockets' third first-round loss in four seasons under Van Gundy.

Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy.Van Gundy had one nonguaranteed year left on his contract, meaning the team held the option to retain him. The team reportedly has contacted Rick Adelman, the former coach of Portland, Golden State and Sacramento.

The firing comes days after 35-year-old general manager Daryl Morey took over for the retiring Carroll Dawson following the Rockets' playoff elimination.

"I was hopeful all the way up to last night they would change their mind," Van Gundy told Houston television station KRIV.

Morey said Van Gundy was given time to "evaluate his situation" with the understanding that the Rockets would begin looking for coaching candidates. By the time Van Gundy decided he wanted to be the coach and not a consultant, "we had already become positive about one alternative candidate," Morey said at a news conference.

He wouldn't name the candidate, and wouldn't specify why Van Gundy was fired.

Van Gundy led the Rockets to a 182-146 record in four seasons. But Houston went 7-12 in three playoffs appearances and more was expected from teams anchored by All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

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