Mike Brown won everything in five years coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers. Everything, that is, except an NBA title.

Brown, the most successful coach in franchise history, was fired Monday after failing to win a championship with superstar — and soon-to-be free agent — LeBron James.

Brown's dismissal had been expected since the Cavs were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, a stunning exit for a team favored to win it all.

In five seasons, Brown, who had one year left on his contract, went 314-177 and was the league's coach of the year in 2009. He took Cleveland to the postseason every season and led the Cavaliers to their only finals appearance in 2007.

But the Cavs, despite having the best regular-season record the past two years, fell short of winning their first title and now face an uncertain future with James, the league's two-time defending MVP, eligible for free agency and expected to listen to offers from other teams.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert made the decision to fire Brown following an organizational review that began following the Cavs' stunning collapse. Cleveland had a 2-1 series lead over the Celtics before losing three straight, including the final two at home by a combined 50 points.

"After a long and deep analysis of all of the factors that led to the disappointing early ends to our playoff runs over the past two seasons, we concluded that it was time for the Cavaliers to move in a different direction," Gilbert said in a statement released by the team. "The expectations of this organization are very high and, although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment.

"This is one of those times."

Brown was not immediately available for comment. No one answered the door at his home in Westlake, Ohio.

The James' family publicist said the All-Star forward is out of town on vacation and is not available to comment on Brown's dismissal.

Brown was voted the league's coach of the year last season when the Cavs won 66 games. However, Cleveland lost to Orlando in the conference finals and it was assumed Brown would have to get the team closer to a championship to keep his job.

But the Cavs regressed and were badly outplayed by the Celtics. The embarrassing home performances, coupled with the early exit forced Gilbert to make a difficult decision on Brown, who won 127 regular-season games the past two seasons and took Cleveland to its only finals visit in 2007.

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