The Indiana Pacers appointed Jim O'Brien as head coach on Thursday after the club missed the NBA postseason for the first time in a decade.

O'Brien, previously in charge of the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, replaces Rick Carlisle who was fired last month following a 181-147 record in four seasons with the Pacers.

"I believe it is very important to have a coach with experience and I feel Jim is the guy who will take us to the next level," president of basketball operations Larry Bird said in a statement.

The 55-year-old O'Brien, who compiled a 182-158 record in five seasons with Boston and the 76ers, said: "I am thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity to be the coach of the Indiana Pacers."

O'Brien has not coached since being fired by the 76ers after the 2005 season. He guided Philadelphia into the NBA playoffs with a 43-39 record.

Indiana finished in fourth place in the Central Division this year after a 35-47 campaign, their first losing season since 1996-97 when the Pacers were 39-43.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2007)