Rick Carlisle Headed Back To Indiana

One key coaching vacancy has now apparently been filled. According to ESPN, former Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle is off the market and headed back to the Indiana Pacers, where he was the head coach for four seasons and served as an assistant for three.

Carlisle resigned as the Dallas Mavericks’ head coach earlier this month, ending a 13-year tenure with the franchise that included an NBA championship in 2011.

He replaces Nate Bjorkgren, who was fired earlier this month after one season.

The Pacers’ five-year playoff streak ended this season when they lost to the Washington Wizards in a play-in tournament bid to earn the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Indiana was 34-38.

Carlisle has a 836-689 career record, having been the head coach for the Detroit Pistons and Pacers before arriving in Dallas in 2008.

This must be disappointing news for former Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts, who was in the running for the job.