By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published May 01, 2013 at 12:30 PM Photography: David Bernacchi

The Milwaukee Bucks announced that Jim Boylan "will not be offered a new contract" to return as head coach.

The team said the decision was made Wednesday afternoon.

"At this time we feel it’s in the best interest of the organization to seek a new coach to lead our team," Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a statement. "We appreciate Jim’s efforts not only in his time as head coach, but in his entire tenure as a coach in Milwaukee. On behalf of the Bucks organization, I thank Jim for his five years here and his many contributions on and off the court. We wish Jim and his wife, Jane, the best."

Boylan replaced head coach Scott Skiles on Jan. 7 after serving as his assistant the last four years. As the head coach, the Bucks went 22-28 in the regular season and were swept out of the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Miami Heat.

Many Bucks players complimented Boylan during interviews on Sunday night and Monday.

"Jim had a tough job coming in halfway through the year and dealing with a talented roster that we had, to take over for a coach like Scott, he had his hands full," free agent Mike Dunleavy said. "To get us into the playoffs was an accomplishment."

Veteran Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said a change may have been needed however.

"Having Jim was still kind of like the Skiles era," Mbah a Moute said. "It was the same plays, the same everything pretty much. It didn’t change that much. I think definitely we’re looking for something different. I’ve been in the system for five years and it’s the same, the way it’s going. I think it will be good to look for something else, something different."

Hammond said in the release that the coaching search will begin "immediately."