Rick Carlisle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rick Carlisle

Carlisle in 2023
Indiana Pacers
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1959-10-27) October 27, 1959 (age 65) Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.
High school	Lisbon Central (Lisbon, New York) Worcester Academy (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Maine (1979–1981) Virginia (1982–1984)
NBA Draft	1984 / Round: 3 / Pick: 70th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career	1984–1989
Coaching career	1989–present
League	NBA
Career history
As player:
1984–1987	Boston Celtics
1987	Albany Patroons
1987–1988	New York Knicks
1989	New Jersey Nets
As coach:
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 and awards
As player: NBA champion (1986) As coach: NBA champion (2011) NBA Coach of the Year (2002) NBA All-Star Game head coach (2004)
Career NBA statistics
Points	422 (2.2 ppg)
Rebounds	141 (0.8 rpg)
Assists	201 (1.1 apg)

Richard Preston Carlisle, born on October 27, 1959, is a famous American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Carlisle also coached the Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavericks. He led the Mavericks to an NBA championship in 2011. As a player, he played for teams like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and New Jersey Nets. Rick Carlisle is one of only 14 people ever to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach!

Rick Carlisle's Playing Career

Carlisle grew up in Lisbon, New York. He went to Lisbon Central High School and was the first player there to score 1,000 points in basketball. After high school, he spent a year at Worcester Academy.

College Basketball Years

Carlisle played college basketball for two years at the University of Maine from 1979 to 1981. Then, he moved to the University of Virginia. He was a starting player for the 1982–83 Virginia Cavaliers team. This team included Ralph Sampson, who was named the best college player three times.

In December 1982, Virginia was the top-ranked team in the country. However, they were surprisingly beaten by Chaminade. In the 1983 NCAA tournament, Virginia was a top seed. They reached the Elite Eight before losing to North Carolina State, who went on to win the championship.

Carlisle was a co-captain for the 1983–84 Cavaliers team. He helped them reach the Final Four. There, they lost a close game in overtime to the Houston Cougars, led by Hakeem Olajuwon. During his college career, Carlisle averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Playing in the NBA

After college, in 1984, the Boston Celtics picked Carlisle as the 70th player in the 1984 NBA draft. He played alongside basketball legend Larry Bird. With Celtics coach K. C. Jones, Carlisle won an NBA championship in 1986. He also played in the NBA Finals in 1985 and 1987, though the Celtics lost those years. In the 1986 NBA Finals, Carlisle made all three shots he took in his limited playing time.

From 1984 to 1987, Carlisle played a small role as a reserve player. He averaged 2.2 points, 1.0 assists, and 0.8 rebounds per game. After his time with the Celtics, he played for the Albany Patroons in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).

Later, Carlisle signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent. He played under coach Rick Pitino with rising star Patrick Ewing. In 1989, Carlisle played in five games for the New Jersey Nets before ending his playing career.

Rick Carlisle's Coaching Career

In 1989, Rick Carlisle became an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets. He worked there for five seasons. In 1994, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach for three seasons.

In 1997, Carlisle became an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers under his former teammate, Larry Bird. He helped the Pacers have two of their best seasons. In 1997–98, the Pacers played a tough series against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in the final game. In the 1999–2000 season, the Pacers reached the NBA Finals for the first time, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Larry Bird wanted Carlisle to take over as head coach, but the job went to Isiah Thomas instead.

Coaching the Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)

For the 2001–02 season, the Detroit Pistons hired Carlisle as their new head coach. In his two seasons there, he led the team to a 50–32 record each year. They won their division and made it to the playoffs both times. Carlisle was named Coach of the Year in 2002.

However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the 2002–03 season. This happened even though he had a year left on his contract. The team then hired Larry Brown. It was said that Carlisle and the team owners had disagreements. Carlisle's Pistons had just beaten Brown's Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs before losing to the New Jersey Nets.

Coaching the Indiana Pacers (2003–2007)

Carlisle coaching the Pacers in 2005

For the 2003–04 season, Carlisle returned to the Indiana Pacers as head coach. He replaced Isiah Thomas, who was fired after Larry Bird came back as the team's President of Basketball Operations. In his first season back, Carlisle led the Pacers to their best regular-season record ever, with 61 wins and 21 losses. This was the best record in the NBA that year.

In the playoffs, the Pacers beat the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. However, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. That year, Carlisle also coached the East All-Stars in the NBA All-Star Game.

In 2005, many Pacers players were injured or suspended because of a fight during a game. Despite these challenges, the Pacers still made the playoffs. They beat the Boston Celtics in the first round but were again defeated by the Detroit Pistons.

The Pacers' record dropped to 41 wins and 41 losses in 2005–06. They barely made the playoffs and lost in the first round. Even so, Larry Bird and the Pacers' CEO, Donnie Walsh, did not blame Carlisle. They gave him a new contract and made him executive vice president of basketball operations.

After the 2006–07 season, the Pacers had a 35–47 record and missed the playoffs. Larry Bird then fired Carlisle. Carlisle understood, saying the team needed "a new voice." In his four seasons with the Pacers, he had a record of 181 wins and 147 losses. The Pacers offered him a job in the front office, but Carlisle decided to leave that role too in June 2007.

After leaving Indiana, Carlisle worked as a TV analyst for ESPN. Then, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks to be their new head coach.

Coaching the Dallas Mavericks (2008–2021)

Carlisle in 2009

On May 9, 2008, Carlisle signed a four-year deal to coach the Dallas Mavericks. He replaced Avery Johnson.

In the 2008–09 season, the Mavericks finished with a 50–32 record. In the playoffs, they surprised everyone by beating the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. However, they then lost to the Denver Nuggets.

The next year, Carlisle led the Mavericks to a 55–27 record. They finished first in their division and second in the Western Conference. But they lost in the first round of the 2010 playoffs to the Spurs.

Winning the NBA Championship (2010–11)

The 2010–11 season was Carlisle's most successful as a head coach. The Mavericks added new players like Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojaković. They already had star players like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd. The team aimed to win a championship. Dallas started the season strong, winning 16 of their first 20 games. They finished the regular season with a great 57–25 record.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers. On May 8, 2011, they swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. On May 25, 2011, the Mavericks won their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was Carlisle's first time winning a conference final, which meant he would coach in the NBA Finals for the first time.

In the 2011 NBA Finals, Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a 4–2 series victory over the Miami Heat. This was the first championship in the Mavericks' history!

Carlisle in 2011

After the Championship (2012–2018)

In the 2012 playoffs, the Mavericks were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. In May 2012, Carlisle signed a new four-year deal with the Mavericks.

In 2013, the Mavericks finished with a 41–41 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

In 2014, Carlisle led the Mavericks back to the playoffs. They were the eighth seed and played against the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks lost in seven games, and the Spurs went on to win the 2014 NBA Finals.

In 2015, the Mavericks finished 50–32, but they were defeated by the Houston Rockets in the first round.

On January 30, 2015, Carlisle earned his 600th coaching win in a game against the Miami Heat. On November 1, 2015, he got his 340th win as Mavericks coach. This made him the winningest coach in the team's history, passing Don Nelson. Four days later, Carlisle signed another new five-year deal with Dallas.

In 2016, the Mavericks finished sixth in the Western Conference. However, they were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

On December 2, 2017, Carlisle recorded his 700th win in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Luka Dončić Era (2018–2021)

During the 2018 NBA draft, the Mavericks traded for Luka Dončić. In 2019, the team added Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porziņģis. In 2020, the Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time in three years. They were the 7th seed but lost to the Los Angeles Clippers.

On January 13, 2021, Carlisle recorded his 800th win in a game against the Charlotte Hornets.

In 2021, the Mavericks made the playoffs for the second year in a row. They were the 5th seed and division champions, but they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.

On June 17, 2021, Carlisle decided to step down as the Mavericks' head coach. He still had two years left on his contract.

Return to the Indiana Pacers (2021–Present)

On June 24, 2021, Rick Carlisle was hired as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers once again. This was his third time with the franchise and his second time as head coach. His contract was reportedly for $29 million over four years.

Carlisle with the Pacers during an event in November 2023

When Carlisle returned, the Pacers started to rebuild their team. They traded away key players like Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. In return, they got young star Tyrese Haliburton, whom Carlisle called "an elite young point guard." The team also gained many future draft picks and players like Buddy Hield. With their draft picks, the Pacers selected young talents such as Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker. The Pacers missed the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.

On October 26, 2023, Carlisle signed a new contract extension with Indiana. This deal keeps him with the team beyond the 2024–25 season.

On November 6, 2023, Carlisle earned his 900th coaching win. This happened in a big 41-point victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Playoff Success and Finals Run (2024–Present)

In 2024, after two years of rebuilding and adding Pascal Siakam, Carlisle's Pacers finished with a 47–35 record. They were the sixth seed and made the 2024 NBA playoffs. They reached the conference finals, where they were swept by the Boston Celtics, who went on to win the NBA Finals. On May 10, 2024, Carlisle was fined $35,000 for criticizing the referees during their playoff series win against the New York Knicks.

In 2025, the Pacers returned to the playoffs as the fourth seed. They improved to a 50–32 record, which was the team's first 50-win season since 2013–14. The Pacers reached the conference finals again, which was the first time they had done so in back-to-back seasons since 2012–13 and 2013–14. He then led them to the 2025 NBA Finals, the team’s first Finals appearance since 2000. In Game 1 of the Finals, the Pacers came back from being 15 points behind in the fourth quarter after a timeout called by Carlisle. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. This comeback tied for the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a Finals game. The Dallas Mavericks, also coached by Carlisle at the time, had a similar comeback in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals. The Pacers eventually lost the series in 7 games.

Rick Carlisle's Personal Life

Carlisle married Dr. Donna Nobile, a pediatrician, in 2000. They have a daughter named Abby, who was born around 2005. Rick Carlisle loves playing the piano. He is also a private pilot and enjoys flying his single-engine plane. As of September 2015, he had flown for almost 200 hours.

Career Statistics

Regular season

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

Playoffs

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

Head Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Rick Carlisle para niños