The Indiana Pacers have officially locked in their head coach for the foreseeable future. Rick Carlisle, the architect behind the franchise’s stunning rise to the 2025 NBA Finals, has signed a multiyear contract extension, team officials confirmed Tuesday.
While the exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed, the message is clear: Carlisle isn’t going anywhere.
“Since his return to the Pacers in 2021, coach Carlisle has been integral to our success,” said Kevin Pritchard, the team’s president of basketball operations. “He’s led us to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and our first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years. We are thrilled to have him continue leading our team and representing our organization well into the future”.
Carlisle, now 65, is the NBA’s oldest active head coach and one of its most respected minds. He enters the 2025–26 season just seven wins shy of becoming the 11th coach in league history to reach 1,000 career victories. Among active coaches, only Doc Rivers has more wins.
His leadership will be especially critical this season, as the Pacers face adversity without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals and is expected to miss the entire year. The team also lost longtime center Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency.
Carlisle’s extension signals a commitment to continuity and culture, two pillars that have defined Indiana’s resurgence. With a core that includes Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers are betting that Carlisle’s experience and adaptability will guide them through another deep playoff push.
