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Glen Gulutzan was fired after two seasons as coach of the Dallas Stars, the NHL team said Tuesday.

Stars General Manager Jim Nill said the said the team "decided to go in a different direction" and so relieved Gulutzan and assistant coach Paul Jerrard of their duties.

Nill, who became general manager April 29, praised both men as "quality coaches" and thanked them for their work in Dallas in recent seasons.

Gulutzan took over the Stars after Marc Crawford was fired after the 2010-11 season. He previously coached the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Cedar Falls, Texas, and Las Vegas of the ECHL.

The Stars were 47-56-17 in Gulutzan's two seasons as coach and the team this year missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Nill said assistant coach Curt Fraser and goaltending coach Mike Valley could be retained.