Pacers reward Rick Carlisle with multiyear extension

Aug 19, 2025 3:45 PM

The Indiana Pacers are keeping stability on the sidelines. Head coach Rick Carlisle has agreed to a multiyear extension, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Carlisle just completed his fourth season in his second stint leading Indiana, guiding the team to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers, who entered the postseason as the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed, advanced to the Finals for only the second time in franchise history.

Carlisle, who doubles as president of the @NBA_Coaches Association, just completed the fourth season of his second stint as the Pacers’ head coach and led the East’s No. 4 seeds on a run to just the second NBA Finals berth in the team’s history. https://t.co/ArsJ2UwMea
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 19, 2025

Carlisle’s deal comes after he helped the Pacers eliminate Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York before falling in seven games to Oklahoma City. The run marked Indiana’s first Finals appearance since the 1999–2000 season.

Carlisle, who also serves as president of the NBA Coaches Association, has now cemented his place as a central figure in the Pacers’ long-term vision. The extension reflects Indiana’s confidence in his leadership as the franchise moves forward without injured star Tyrese Haliburton, who is expected to miss the entire 2025–26 season with an Achilles tear.

Carlisle’s playoff experience and ability to develop young players proved vital during the 2024–25 campaign. Despite injuries to multiple centers and roster turnover, the Pacers recorded their first 50-win season since 2013–14.