Indianapolis ? Jim O’Brien was hired Thursday as coach of the Indiana Pacers, who turned to an NBA veteran in hopes of reviving a team that missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and has been beset by turmoil.

The announcement ends a five-week search that began with the firing of Rick Carlisle after four seasons.

O’Brien previously coached in Boston and Philadelphia, compiling a 182-158 record in five seasons. He has been out of coaching since he was fired by the 76ers after the 2005 season.

Pacers president Larry Bird said he had talked with O’Brien during the past 10 days about the job.

“It came down to we needed a guy with experience in here. A guy who I think I’m going to be on the same page with to do the things necessary to take us to the next level,” Bird said. “I’ve got the right man for the right job.”

O’Brien had been writing for ESPN.com the past two years, but he expected to return to coaching.

“I knew shortly after I left Philadelphia that I wasn’t going to be out of coaching long if I had anything to do with it,” he said. “I was hoping to get an opportunity like this.”

Indiana finished out the playoffs with a 35-47 record this year. The team has been in disarray since the November 2004 brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans – months after the Pacers had finished with the NBA’s best record and reached the Eastern Conference finals.

Memphis names boss

Memphis, Tenn.- Marc Iavaroni was hired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday after a season that left the team with the worst record in the NBA.

Iavaroni, who has spent 17 years in the NBA as a player and assistant coach, is regarded as one of the league’s top assistants. He spent the past five seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

Tony Barone, the Grizzlies’ former director of player personnel, was appointed interim coach last season when Memphis fired Mike Fratello with the team at 6-24. The Grizzlies finished at 22-60 following three straight trips to the playoffs.

Iavaroni said he was impressed with team owner Michael Heisley’s pledge to run the Grizzlies as a partnership between the coaching and management staffs.

“They’re obviously committed to winning,” Iavaroni said.

Heisley said Iavaroni’s coaching style with an emphasis on “positive reinforcement” will work well with younger players like Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and Hakim Warrick.