3:46 pm: The Pacers have officially signed Carlisle to an extension, according to a team press release.
“Since his return to the Pacers in 2021, Coach Carlisle has been integral to our success, which includes leading us to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and our first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “Beyond his coaching achievements that rank him among the best in NBA history, Coach Carlisle continues to embrace our community and give back to the state of Indiana with his Drive and Dish program. We are thrilled to have him continue leading our team and representing our organization well into the future.”
9:30 am: After leading the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance in a quarter-century this spring, head coach Rick Carlisle has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the team, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).
The Pacers had one of the worst years in franchise history during Carlisle’s first season back on the job in 2021/22, posting a record of just 25-57. But the club has steadily improved since then, increasing its regular season win total to 35 in ’22/23, 47 in ’23/24, and 50 this past year.
Indiana has also made consecutive deep playoff runs with Carlisle at the helm, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 and then appearing in the NBA Finals this year for the first time since 2000.
Accounting for both his current stint with the Pacers and his previous four-year run from 2003-07, Carlisle has posted an overall regular season record of 338-318 (.515) and has gone 41-34 (.547) in the postseason, making the playoffs in five of eight seasons.
In addition to his time in Indiana, Carlisle has another 15 years and 1,197 regular season games under his belt as a head coach in Detroit and Dallas since 2001.
The details of Carlisle’s new agreement are unclear, but he reportedly signed a four-year contract in 2021 and was also extended in 2023. Given that his initial four-year deal just ended this year and both of his extensions have been described as “multiyear” pacts, it seems safe to assume he’s under contract for several seasons to come.
Carlisle is a very underrated coach. He built up the Pistons teams. Won 61 games with the Pacers…neither of those teams had any superstar talent…he beats the the Heat, the most talented superteam in the history of the game with Dirk and a bunch of geriatrics. And takes the current Pacers to the ECF and the Finals, another team with a very modest roster
2017 warriors = most talented superteam
1969-1973 Knicks super team. Had 8 HOF players. And Phil Jackson a HOF coach. 9 HOFers.
The Celtics won 8 consecutive Titles 1959-66.
They had 10 HOF players on those teams.
One year super teams are so NOW lol ….. read
If the measure of a great coach is consistently making your teams better, then Carlisle is a great coach.
If he can get to the playoffs this year, without Halliburton, he joins the “best active coach” conversation with Tyrone Lue and Erik Spoelstra.
Kiss of death. He will get fired next year
Carlilsle is a good coach. He has had success everywhere he’s been. I would want him as my coach. Great coach ….. I will wait till he retires for that. He’s heading that way.
His first trip to Indiana was a disaster