Three Texans assistant coaches have been fired by coach Bill O’Brien.

Special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, receivers coach Stan Hixon and defensive assistant Anthony Pleasant will be replaced.

All were part of O’Brien’s first staff in 2014.

Ligashesky, who joined the Texans in 2013, was the only holdover from Gary Kubiak’s last staff to make it to 2015.

The special teams were a disappointment this season, including allowing a 106-yard kickoff return on the first play of the 30-0 loss to Kansas City in Saturday’s wild-card game.

Asked about the special teams at his Sunday news conference, O’Brien said, “It’s not very good. Again, I’m not going to get into all of it because I really haven’t evaluated the season as a whole.

“But looking at yesterday’s game, we have to cover kicks better. We have to return kicks better. We have to block better. Everything’s got to get better on special teams in order for us to be where we want to be this time next year. We have to really improve on special teams.”

In Hixon’s two seasons with the Texans, DeAndre Hopkins developed into one of the league’s premier receivers, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl this season and being voted to the All-Pro second team.

Pleasant was hired in 2014 to work with strength and conditioning before being promoted to defensive assistant this season.

john.mcclain@chron.com

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