American Barry Smith quit as coach of Russian ice hockey club SKA St Petersburg on Tuesday, a day after the team were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the third year in a row.
"I am the head coach, therefore responsible for all this," Smith, 57, told a news conference before announcing his resignation.
The army team had been odds-on favourites to claim their first Continental Hockey League title this season but were beaten by outsiders Dynamo Riga in the first round.
Smith has extensive coaching experience and served as assistant to Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman, helping him win five Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 and 92) and the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 98 and 2002).