The Indiana Pacers announced on Thursday that coach Rick Carlisle and the franchise have reached a multiyear contract extension.
In Wednesday’s victory over the Washington Wizards, Carlisle earned his 897th career victory. He rejoined the Pacers in 2021 as a coach and is now firmly established as the team’s head coach as they rebuild around All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Leading the Pacers in his second stint, Carlisle has assumed a major organizational leadership position with general manager Chad Buchanan and president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard.
“It goes beyond saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most innovative and successful coaches in the entire history of the league, so there has never been a question that he remains to be the right person for leading our team,” Pritchard said in a prepared statement. “His ties to this organization & community run deep, his leadership qualities are invaluable to our players & staff, and we’re looking ahead to working together for years in the future as we build a unique experience for our fans.”
After spending 13 seasons as a coach with the Dallas Mavericks, Carlisle, 63, returned to the Pacers. He had been with the team from 2003 to 2007. In addition to being the National Basketball Coaches Association’s lengthy president, he won an NBA title with Dallas in 2011.
To start the season, the Pacers defeated the Wizards 143–120 on Wednesday.