BREAKING NEWS: Indiana Pacers Former Coach Rick Carlisle Announced Return as General Manager of the Pacers After Landmark Deal With the Team…

BREAKING NEWS: Indiana Pacers Former Coach Rick Carlisle Announced Return as General Manager of the Pacers After Landmark Deal With the Team…

Indianapolis, IN – May 24, 2025

In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves across the NBA, former Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has officially returned to the franchise—not as coach, but as General Manager—after what insiders are calling a “landmark deal” with the organization.

Carlisle, who stepped down from coaching duties at the end of the 2024 season citing a desire to “take a step back,” had remained close to the team in an advisory role. Today, the Pacers confirmed that he has signed a five-year deal to become the team’s GM, with full control over basketball operations.

“This is home,” Carlisle said in a packed press conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “I’ve spent some of the most important years of my life here. Coaching was incredible, but now it’s time to lead this franchise from a different chair—with the same passion, the same vision.”

The deal was reportedly negotiated over the past two months in secrecy, as the Pacers’ front office sought a bold new direction after another early playoff exit. Sources say the terms include a stake in team decision-making beyond basketball, a move that underlines how deeply the franchise values Carlisle’s leadership.

Current Pacers players, including star guard Tyrese Haliburton, expressed excitement about the news. “Coach Carlisle knows what it takes to win. As GM, I trust he’ll build something great—because he already has,” Haliburton said in a statement.

Carlisle’s first move as GM? A promise to keep the team’s young core intact, while aggressively pursuing key veteran talent in free agency.

As one insider put it: “This isn’t a rebuild—it’s a reset. Rick’s not just back. He’s back in charge.”

Fans have already taken to social media, many calling it a “full-circle moment” for a man who helped define two generations of Pacers basketball. One banner hanging outside the Fieldhouse simply read: “Welcome back, boss.”

Stay tuned—this might be the beginning of a new era in Indiana.