CREDIT: Getty Images Ron Wilson.

Ron Wilson paid the ultimate price for the San Jose Sharks' playoff struggles.

"Sometimes the class needs a new professor and sometimes the professor needs a new class," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said Monday during a conference call to announce his decision to fire the team's head coach.

The Sharks vaulted into the realm of Stanley Cup contenders after acquiring superstar centre Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins on Nov. 30, 2005. Three consecutive second-round exits later, the team hasn't come close to meeting expectations.

"I think we've identified the things that need to be addressed and we've talked about them before," Doug Wilson said. "But the results speak for themselves."

Ron Wilson had success with the Sharks in the regular season, guiding the team to the Pacific Division titles in 2003-04 and 2007-08. He holds the franchise record with in wins at 206 and winning percentage at .535 in five seasons behind the bench.

"I think I'm a good coach and with time I'll look back on this experience with a big smile on my face," Ron Wilson said during a conference call. "I think I've helped develop a ton of players here."

The closest the Sharks came to the Stanley Cup under Ron Wilson was a third-round loss to the Calgary Flames in 2004.

"Winning the Stanley Cup is not something you wish for like the tooth fairy and put something under the pillow and it automatically happens the next day," Ron Wilson said. "We had a chance pretty much every year since I've been coaching . . . we've been in more playoff games than just about everybody." This season, the Sharks beat the Flames in seven games in the first round, but fell in six games to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals. Doug Wilson said he was disappointed his team fell behind 3-0 to the Stars, especially after a strong Game 7 against Calgary. "Five good games out of 13 (in the playoffs) isn't going to cut it," Doug Wilson said.

Ron Wilson, known for his fiery personality, clashed with some of the Sharks players, including soft-spoken captain Patrick Marleau. The coach went as far as to criticize Marleau's leadership during the Sharks' loss to the Red Wings in the 2007 playoffs.

Doug Wilson said he will begin looking for a new head coach today, but noted there is no timeline as to when the new coach will be hired.

"We're going to have a broad, broad expansive approach on this and get the group that works best for us," he said.

The Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche are all on the hunt for new head coaches.

Whoever the new coach is, he will inherit a team with many of its key components locked up for the long-term. Thornton, winger Jonathan Cheechoo and defenceman Craig Rivet are signed through 2011, Marleau and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov will be wearing teal though 2010, defenceman Matt Carle is locked up until 2012 and winger Milan Michalek has signed an extension through 2014.

"I think we're set up to be a good hockey team for many years," Doug Wilson said, but added there will be some players from the current roster who won't be back next year.

Assistant coaches Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler have been retained, although Doug Wilson said the new head coach will have input on who the assistants will be next season.

Ron Wilson said he hasn't begun to think about his future.

"It's very difficult to talk about what I'm going to do next year when what happened this year is still fresh in my mind," he said.