Doug Collins out as Sixers coach, says team owner Josh Harris

Doug Collins will not return as coach of the Sixers next season. (Barry Gossage/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris confirmed to the media Thursday morning that Doug Collins, who was rumored to be on his way out of Philadelphia, will in fact not return as coach of the team next season.

The news comes a day after the team wrapped up its season with a 105-95 road win against the Indiana Pacers. But it was too little, too late as the Sixers will miss the playoffs for the first time in Collins' three seasons as head coach of the team.

Philadelphia struggled for most of the season in part because Andrew Bynum has yet to play a game since the team acquired him last summer. The Sixers finished this year with a 34-48 record, tied with the Toronto Raptors for ninth overall in the Eastern Conference.

Collins had reportedly said as recently as April 14 that he would not return as coach of the Sixers next season, despite having $4.5 million remaining on his contract in 2013-14. In 2012, the team gave Collins a one-year extension on the three-year contract he initially signed. According to a tweet from ESPN Thursday morning, Collins will remain with the team as a consultant.

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