Pacers Announce Contract Extension for Coach Rick Carlisle

The Pacers have announced a contract extension for coach Rick Carlisle, with the program looking to be moving in the right direction.

“It goes without saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most creative and successful coaches in the history of the league, so there was never a question that he continues to be the right person to lead our team,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “His ties to this organization and community run deep, his guidance and leadership are invaluable to our players and staff, and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come as we build something special for our fans.”

Carlisle, 63, is in his second stint with Indiana, He’s 60-104 over the past two seasons, taking over a rebuilding team and continuing to shape it into one that looks like it’s close to very good things.

He is one of just several active coaches with a championship ring, having won a title with the Mavericks in 2011. He was named NBA Coach of the Year while with the Pistons in 2002.

The Pacers walloped the Wizards to open this season, with the core of point guard Tyrese Haliburton, shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, forward Obi Toppin and others looking as promising as ever.

“To have a championship culture, a lot of it is swimming upstream because what you’re saying is you want guys to be really competitive and want to play a lot of minutes, but at the same time, encourage teammates that they’re competing with for minutes,” Carlisle once said, via Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files. “It takes a special group. As an organization, we’re trying to find special people. As a coaching staff, we try to keep the messaging consistent every single day.”

Terms of the extension were not revealed.