Glenn
10-05-2006, 04:12 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2614373
Pacers lock up Carlisle with multiyear extension
ESPN.com news services
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who entered camp this week in the final year of his contract, signed a multiyear contract extension, the Pacers said Thursday.
Carlisle also added the title of executive vice president of basketball operations. Terms of the contract were not released.
The Pacers are 146-100 in three seasons under Carlisle and have made the playoffs three times, including a trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 2004.
Indiana is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit, and team president Larry Bird said in May that Carlisle needed to instill more discipline and get more out of his players.
Carlisle's years with the Pacers have been made more difficult with the soap opera that surrounded star player Ron Artest. Two seasons ago, it was the brawl with Pistons fans in Auburn Hills. Last season, his trade request, which was eventually granted, effectively ended the team's title hopes.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said earlier this fall that he's happy with Carlisle.
"We knew we wanted to keep him," Walsh said before the extension had been announced. "He wanted to stay here. We think he's a good coach. I don't think you can look at what's happened and lay it at his doorstep."
Carlisle was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2002, when he was with the Pistons.
Pacers lock up Carlisle with multiyear extension
ESPN.com news services
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who entered camp this week in the final year of his contract, signed a multiyear contract extension, the Pacers said Thursday.
Carlisle also added the title of executive vice president of basketball operations. Terms of the contract were not released.
The Pacers are 146-100 in three seasons under Carlisle and have made the playoffs three times, including a trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 2004.
Indiana is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit, and team president Larry Bird said in May that Carlisle needed to instill more discipline and get more out of his players.
Carlisle's years with the Pacers have been made more difficult with the soap opera that surrounded star player Ron Artest. Two seasons ago, it was the brawl with Pistons fans in Auburn Hills. Last season, his trade request, which was eventually granted, effectively ended the team's title hopes.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said earlier this fall that he's happy with Carlisle.
"We knew we wanted to keep him," Walsh said before the extension had been announced. "He wanted to stay here. We think he's a good coach. I don't think you can look at what's happened and lay it at his doorstep."
Carlisle was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2002, when he was with the Pistons.