NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 28: Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 28, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers have signed Rick Carlisle as their new head coach. “Rick is a proven winner with a championship and will be a Hall of Fame coach,” said Pacers president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard. “He has demonstrated throughout his career an ability to build something with sustainable success. He has great respect for our franchise and our fans from his previous times here. We are very happy to welcome him back to Indiana.”
Carlisle joins Indiana one week after parting ways with the Dallas Mavericks. Carlisle coached Dallas for 13 years and led them to the playoffs nine times, including a championship in 2011. The Mavericks’ season ended in a first-round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Carlisle will begin his second stint with the Pacers next season. He previously coached Indiana from 2003-2007, leading them to the postseason four times. Indiana won 61 games with Carlisle in 2003-2004, and he was named the All-Star game head coach that season. The team was unable to replicate the same success in the following season due to the infamous “Malice at the Palace” that decimated the roster. The 61-year-old head coach has 836 career wins, the third-most among active coaches. He was also awarded the Coach of The Year in 2002 during his season with the Detroit Pistons.
Carlisle will attempt to improve a young Pacers team and lead them to the playoffs.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Jimmy Horn Jr. has been waived by the Carolina Panthers despite his good preseason, and…
Houston Texans star receiver Nico Collins suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s practice, and it…
Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford, Mississippi, this week for a homecoming with his old team,…
Steve Belichick, son of University of North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, is resigning from his…
Arch Manning is under fire after laughing at AI edits made after an awkward moment…
Tommy Pham's return to the Chicago White Sox active roster began with a chance elevator…