.jpg) Carlisle in 2023 | |
| Indiana Pacers | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1959-10-27)October 27, 1959 (age 66) Ogdensburg, New York, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | |
| NBA draft | 1984: 3rd round, 70th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Boston Celtics |
| Playing career | 1984–1989 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 34, 3, 12 |
| Coaching career | 1989–present |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1984–1987 | Boston Celtics |
| 1987 | Albany Patroons |
| 1987–1988 | New York Knicks |
| 1989 | New Jersey Nets |
Coaching | |
| 1989–1994 | New Jersey Nets (assistant) |
| 1994–1997 | Portland Trail Blazers (assistant) |
| 1997–2000 | Indiana Pacers (assistant) |
| 2001–2003 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2003–2007 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2008–2021 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2021–present | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 422 (2.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 141 (0.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 201 (1.1 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Rick Preston Carlisle (/ˈkɑːrlaɪl/KAR-lyle; born October 27, 1959) is an Americanbasketball coach and former player who is the head coach for theIndiana Pacers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He has previously served as head coach of theDetroit Pistons andDallas Mavericks, winning the2011 NBA Finals with the latter. As a player, Carlisle played for theBoston Celtics,New York Knicks, andNew Jersey Nets. He is one of only 14 people to win an NBA championship as both a player and a coach.
Carlisle was raised inLisbon, New York. He attended Lisbon Central High School and was the first 1,000 point scorer there playing basketball,[1] before spending a year atWorcester Academy. Carlisle played two years ofcollege basketball at theUniversity of Maine from 1979 to 1981, before transferring to theUniversity of Virginia.[2] He was a starter for the1982–83 Virginia Cavaliers team that featured the three-timecollege player of the yearRalph Sampson. UVA was the number one ranked team in the country prior to beingdefeated by Chaminade on December 23, 1982. In the1983 NCAA tournament, UVA was the number one seed in the West and made it to theElite Eight before losing to eventual NCAA national championNorth Carolina State. Carlisle was the co-captain on the1983–84 Cavaliers team and helped lead them to theFinal Four where they lost 49–47 in overtime to theHouston Cougars team led byHakeem Olajuwon. Carlisle averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his college career.
After graduating in 1984, Carlisle was selected 70th overall by theBoston Celtics in the1984 NBA draft, where he played alongsideLarry Bird. Under Celtics' coachK. C. Jones, Carlisle won theNBA championship in1986 and lost in the finals in1985 and1987. In the 1986 NBA finals series, in limited playing time, Carlisle made every shot he took (3 for 3).[3]
In a limited reserve role from 1984 to 1987, Carlisle averaged 2.2 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds per game. He then played for theAlbany Patroons of theContinental Basketball Association (CBA) underBill Musselman. Carlisle then signed as a free agent with theNew York Knicks, where he played under coachRick Pitino alongside emerging starPatrick Ewing. In 1989, Carlisle played in five games with theNew Jersey Nets underBill Fitch.
Later in 1989, Carlisle accepted an assistant coaching position with theNew Jersey Nets, where he spent five seasons underBill Fitch andChuck Daly. In 1994, he joined the assistant coaching staff with thePortland Trail Blazers under coachP. J. Carlesimo, where he spent three seasons.
In 1997, Carlisle joined theIndiana Pacers organization as an assistant coach under former teammateLarry Bird. During his time as assistant coach, he helped the Pacers to two of their best seasons ever. First, in1997–98, the Pacers stretched theChicago Bulls to the limit, narrowly losing the deciding seventh game of theEastern Conference Finals to the eventual NBA champion. Then, in1999–2000 season, the Pacers made theNBA Finals for the first time, ultimately losing to theLos Angeles Lakers.[4] Bird stepped down as coach and pushed for Carlisle to be selected as his replacement, but Pacers' team presidentDonnie Walsh gave the job toIsiah Thomas.[5]
For the 2001–02 season, Carlisle was hired by theDetroit Pistons to be their new head coach. In two seasons as head coach, he led the team to consecutive 50–32 records (.610) withCentral Division titles and playoff appearances. Carlisle was namedCoach of the Year in 2002. However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the2002–03 season with a year remaining on his contract and hiredLarry Brown. Friction between Carlisle and team ownership was cited as one of the primary reasons for the firing. Carlisle's Pistons had just dispatched Brown'sPhiladelphia 76ers in theEastern Conference semifinals before being swept by theNew Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference finals.
For the2003–04 season, Carlisle returned to the Pacers as head coach to replace Isiah Thomas, who had been fired almost immediately after Larry Bird was brought back as the new President of Basketball Operations.[6] In his first season, Carlisle led the Pacers to theCentral Division title and NBA's best regular-season record at 61–21 (74.4%), setting a franchise record for wins (both in the NBA and ABA). In the playoffs, the team eliminated theBoston Celtics andMiami Heat before losing to theDetroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. That year, Carlisle coached the East All-Stars at theAll-Star Game.[7]
In 2005, the Pacers roster was decimated by injuries, most notably, those ofJermaine O'Neal,Stephen Jackson andJamaal Tinsley, and suspensions from thePacers–Pistons brawl atThe Palace of Auburn Hills, which resulted inRon Artest being suspended for the rest of the season, Jackson being suspended for 30 games, and O'Neal being suspended for 15 games. The Pacers still made theNBA playoffs that season. As the sixth seed, they again defeated theBoston Celtics in the first round before being defeated again by the eventualEastern Conference champion, the Detroit Pistons.
The Pacers slipped to a .500 record in2005–06 and barely made the playoffs, losing in the first round. Despite this, Bird and Pacers CEODonnie Walsh did not hold Carlisle responsible for the Pacers' lackluster performances in the past two seasons, signing him to a multiyear contract extension and giving him the title of executive vice president of basketball operations.[8]
After the Pacers finished the2006–07 season with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997, Bird fired Carlisle. Carlisle understood the decision, saying that the Pacers needed "a new voice". In four seasons with the Pacers, he compiled a 181–147 record.[9] The Pacers offered to let Carlisle stay on in the front office, but Carlisle also resigned that post on June 12, 2007.[10]
After leaving Indiana, Carlisle worked as a studio analyst forESPN[11] before signing with theDallas Mavericks as the team's new head coach.
On May 9, 2008, Carlisle signed a four-year deal with theDallas Mavericks, replacingAvery Johnson.[12]
In theregular season, the Mavericks finished with a record of 50–32. In theplayoffs, the team pulled off a first round upset win against theSan Antonio Spurs, then lost to theDenver Nuggets 1–4 in the Western Conference semifinals.[13][14]
The next year, Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a 55–27 record, first in Southwest Division and second in the Western Conference, but lost in the first round to the Spurs in the2010 playoffs.
The2010–11 season was Carlisle's most successful as a head coach. To strengthen the team, Dallas acquiredTyson Chandler,Peja Stojaković,Corey Brewer,J.J Barea andIan Mahinmi. An existing core ofDirk Nowitzki,Jason Terry,Shawn Marion,Caron Butler, andJason Kidd, the team had clear championship aspirations. To start the season, Dallas won 16 of its first 20 games in a competitiveWestern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 57–25 record.
In the first round, the Mavericks beat thePortland Trail Blazers 4–2. On May 8, 2011, they swept the two-time defending championLos Angeles Lakers in theWestern Conference semifinals. On May 25, 2011, the Mavericks earned a 4–1 series win over theOklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. This marked Carlisle's first conference finals victory of his head coaching career, leading to his first NBA Finals appearance.
In the2011 NBA Finals, Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a 4–2 series victory over theMiami Heat for the franchise's first championship.[15]
In the2012 playoffs, the Mavericks were swept by theOklahoma City Thunder in the first round. In May 2012, Carlisle agreed to a new four-year deal with the Mavericks.
In 2013, the Mavericks finished 41–41 and missed the playoffs for the first time since2000.
In 2014, Carlisle led the Mavericks back to the playoffs as the eighth seed with a 49–33 record where they would meet theSan Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Mavericks lost in seven games and the Spurs went on to win the2014 NBA Finals.[16]
In 2015, the Mavericks finished 50–32, but were defeated in five games by theHouston Rockets in the first round.
On January 30, 2015, Carlisle recorded his 600th win in a game against theMiami Heat.[17] On November 1, 2015, Carlisle recorded his 340th win as Mavericks coach, passingDon Nelson as the winningest coach in franchise history.[18] Four days later, Carlisle signed a new five-year deal with Dallas on November 5.
In 2016, the Mavericks finished sixth in the Western Conference, but were defeated in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On December 2, 2017, Carlisle recorded his 700th win in a game against theLos Angeles Clippers.[19]
During the2018 NBA draft, the Mavericks traded forLuka Dončić and drafted a second round standoutJalen Brunson. In 2019, the team acquiredTim Hardaway Jr. andKristaps Porziņģis. In 2020, the Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time in three years as the 7th seed in the conference, losing in six games to theLos Angeles Clippers.
On January 13, 2021, Carlisle recorded his 800th win in a game against theCharlotte Hornets.[20]
In 2021, the Mavericks made the playoffs for the second consecutive year, again set to play the Los Angeles Clippers. This year, the Mavericks entered as the 5th seed in the Western Conference and as division champions but lost in seven games to the Clippers.
On June 17, 2021, Carlisle stepped down as the Mavericks' head coach with two years remaining on his contract.[21][22]
On June 24, 2021, Carlisle was hired as the head coach of theIndiana Pacers, returning to the franchise for a third stint and his second as head coach. His contract was a reported $29 million over four years.[23]
Upon Carlisle's arrival in Indiana, the team began a rebuild, departing from core playersDomantas Sabonis,Malcolm Brogdon,Caris LeVert,T.J. Warren,Jeremy Lamb,Justin Holiday, andTorrey Craig. During this period, the Pacers received young rising superstarTyrese Haliburton, who Carlisle referred to as "an elite young point guard that affects the game positively in many, many ways."[24] In addition, the team acquired multiple first–round draft picks, sharpshooterBuddy Hield,Daniel Theis, andTristan Thompson. With their numerous draft picks, the team selectedBennedict Mathurin,Jarace Walker,Andrew Nembhard,Chris Duarte,Isaiah Jackson, andBen Sheppard. The Pacers missed the2022 and2023 NBA playoffs with a combined 60–104 record.
On October 26, 2023, Carlisle agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Indiana, extending beyond the2024–25 season.[25]
On November 6, 2023, Carlisle recorded his 900th win in a 41-point blowout win over theSan Antonio Spurs.[26]
In 2024, after a two-year rebuilding process and acquiringPascal Siakam, Carlisle's2023–24 Pacers finished with a 47–35 record as the sixth seed, qualifying for the2024 NBA playoffs and reaching the conference finals, where they were swept by the eventual2024 NBA Finals championBoston Celtics. On May 10, 2024, Carlisle was fined $35,000 for public criticism of the officiating and questioning the integrity of the league and its officials during their series win over theNew York Knicks.[27]
In 2025, the Pacers returned to theplayoffs as the fourth seed, improving to a 50–32 record, the franchise's first 50-win season since2013–14.[28] The Pacers again reached the conference finals, the first time the team had reached consecutive conference finals since the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons.[29] He subsequently led them to the2025 NBA Finals, the team's first finals appearance since 2000. In game 1 of the finals, the Pacers overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter after a timeout by Carlisle to beat theOklahoma City Thunder. The feat was tied for the largest overcome fourth quarter deficit in a finals match since the Dallas Mavericks, who at that time were also coached by Carlisle, rallied and won against the Miami Heat in game 2 of the2011 Finals.[30] The Pacers eventually lost in 7 games.
On August 19, 2025, Carlisle agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Pacers.[31]
Carlisle married pediatrician Dr. Donna Nobile in 2000.[32] They have a daughter, Abby, born c. 2005.[33] Carlisle is an avidpianist andprivate pilot, who as of September 2015 had logged nearly 200 hours flying hisCirrus SR22T single-engine light aircraft.[34][35]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–85 | Boston | 38 | 0 | 4.7 | .388 | .000 | .882 | .6 | .7 | .1 | .0 | 1.8 |
| 1985–86† | Boston | 77 | 1 | 9.9 | .487 | .000 | .652 | 1.0 | 1.4 | .2 | .1 | 2.6 |
| 1986–87 | Boston | 42 | 0 | 7.1 | .326 | .313 | .750 | .7 | .8 | .2 | .0 | 1.9 |
| 1987–88 | New York | 26 | 0 | 7.8 | .433 | .353 | .909 | .5 | 1.2 | .4 | .2 | 2.8 |
| 1989–90 | New Jersey | 5 | 0 | 4.2 | .143 | .000 | — | .0 | 1.0 | .2 | .2 | .4 |
| Career | 188 | 1 | 7.8 | .422 | .229 | .775 | .8 | 1.1 | .2 | .0 | 2.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986† | Boston | 10 | 0 | 5.4 | .533 | — | .750 | .5 | .8 | .2 | .0 | 1.9 |
| 1988 | New York | 2 | 0 | 4.0 | .250 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 12 | 0 | 5.2 | .474 | .000 | .750 | .6 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 1.8 | |
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 2001–02 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 1st inCentral | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost inconference semifinals |
| Detroit | 2002–03 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 1st in Central | 17 | 8 | 9 | .471 | Lost inconference finals |
| Indiana | 2003–04 | 82 | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1st in Central | 16 | 10 | 6 | .625 | Lost inconference finals |
| Indiana | 2004–05 | 82 | 44 | 38 | .537 | 3rd in Central | 13 | 6 | 7 | .462 | Lost inconference semifinals |
| Indiana | 2005–06 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 3rd in Central | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost infirst round |
| Indiana | 2006–07 | 82 | 35 | 47 | .427 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2008–09 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3rd inSouthwest | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | Lost inconference semifinals |
| Dallas | 2009–10 | 82 | 55 | 27 | .671 | 1st in Southwest | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2010–11 | 82 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2nd in Southwest | 21 | 16 | 5 | .762 | WonNBA championship |
| Dallas | 2011–12 | 66 | 36 | 30 | .545 | 3rd in Southwest | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2012–13 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 4th in Southwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2013–14 | 82 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 4th in Southwest | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2014–15 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3rd in Southwest | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2015–16 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 2nd in Southwest | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2016–17 | 82 | 33 | 49 | .402 | 4th in Southwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2017–18 | 82 | 24 | 58 | .293 | 4th in Southwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2018–19 | 82 | 33 | 49 | .402 | 5th in Southwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2019–20 | 75 | 43 | 32 | .573 | 2nd in Southwest | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost infirst round |
| Dallas | 2020–21 | 72 | 42 | 30 | .583 | 1st in Southwest | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost infirst round |
| Indiana | 2021–22 | 82 | 25 | 57 | .305 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Indiana | 2022–23 | 82 | 35 | 47 | .427 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Indiana | 2023–24 | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3rd in Central | 17 | 8 | 9 | .471 | Lost inconference finals |
| Indiana | 2024–25 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2nd in Central | 23 | 15 | 8 | .652 | Lost inNBA Finals |
| Career | 1,853 | 993 | 860 | .536 | 173 | 86 | 87 | .497 | |||
· Basketball Reference | International | |
|---|---|
| National | |