Picture Credit: theathletic.com
Basketball club Indiana Pacers have signed a four-year deal to mark the return of Rick Carlisle as their head coach. After stepping down as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks recently, Carlisle has agreed to sign a 4-year deal for a $29 million contract with the Pacers. The 61-year-old will be returning to the club after over two decades.
The Pacers have faith in their ex-coach to bring back the stability in the team which had been battling a rollercoaster of injuries in the last season. Following which, the club failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the last six years.
The NBA veteran coach led the Pacers from 2003-07 and qualified the club to Eastern Conference Finals in his very first season with the Pacers. The club will hope for reliving the stint and balance the team having suffered a forgettable season in NBA.
You never want to get to a point where you ever feel like you’re overstaying your welcome: Carlisle
Upon stepping down as the head coach of Mavericks, the veteran NBA coach cleared that Nelson’s departure from the club wasn’t the reason for his resignation. “You never want to get to a point where you ever feel like you’re overstaying your welcome, and I just felt like this is the right time. I just have such great respect for Mark and everyone there, and I’m fortunate to move on to another great opportunity”, Carlisle expressed.
Carlisle is going going to be The Pacers third coach within 12 months, and will hopefully be able to revive the veteran team and improve defensively after finishing 25th in the league last season.