Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has agreed to a multi-year contract extension according to reports.
While term and financial details have yet to be publicly confirmed by the team, the move will keep the veteran NBA bench boss tied to the organization for the foreseeable future. An extension took on added importance with the emergence of several of the club’s young stars such as Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin under the veteran coach’s tutelage.
Carlisle, 63, has taken on additional organizational duties alongside President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard, and GM Chad Buchanan in recent years. His input in both free agency, and draft related matters has helped position the Pacers as darkhorse contenders in the East. A position which puts their recent rebuild effort ahead of schedule in the minds of many NBA insiders.
The Ogdensburg, NY native is currently on his third tour of duty with the Pacers franchise, having previously served as an assistant coach from 1997-2000, and head coach from 2003-2007. Carlisle also helped guide the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title, and previously earned coach of the year accolades back in 2002.
Indiana opened the season with a 143-120 win over the Washington Wizards to give coach Carlisle his 897th career win. That total places him 14th all-time amongst NBA head coaches. If things break right for Indiana this season, Carlisle could potentially reach as high as 11th on the list, passing Dick Motta, Red Auerbach, and Bill Fitch in the process.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Keith Allison. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.