After graduating in 1984, Carlisle was selected 70th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA draft, where he played alongside Larry Bird. Under Celtics' coach K. C. Jones, Carlisle won the NBA championship in 1986 and lost in the finals in 1985 and 1987. In the 1986 NBA finals series, in limited playing time, Carlisle made every shot he took (3 for 3). [7]
Later in 1989, Carlisle accepted an assistant coaching position with the Nets, where he spent five seasons under Bill Fitch and Chuck Daly. In 1994, Carlisle joined the assistant coaching staff with the Portland Trail Blazers under coach P. J. Carlesimo, where he spent three seasons.
In 1997, Carlisle joined the Indiana Pacers organization as an assistant coach under former teammate Larry Bird. During his time as Pacers assistant coach, Carlisle helped the Pacers to two of their best seasons ever. First, in 1997–98, the Pacers stretched the Chicago Bulls to the limit, narrowly losing the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual NBA champion. Then, in 1999–2000 season, the Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time, ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.[8] Bird stepped down as coach and pushed for Carlisle to be selected as his replacement, but Pacers' team president Donnie Walsh gave the job to Isiah Thomas.[9]
Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)
For the 2001–02 season, Carlisle was hired by the Detroit Pistons to be their new head coach. In two seasons as head coach, he led the team to consecutive 50–32 records (.610) with Central Division titles and playoff appearances. Carlisle was named Coach of the Year in 2002. However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the 2002–03 season with a year remaining on his contract and hired Larry Brown. Friction between Carlisle and team ownership was cited as one of the primary reasons for the firing. Carlisle's Pistons had just dispatched Brown's Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals before being swept by the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference finals.
Indiana Pacers (2003–2007)
Carlisle in 2005
For the 2003–04 season, Carlisle returned to the Pacers as head coach to replace Isiah Thomas, who had been fired almost immediately after Larry Bird was brought back as the new President of Basketball Operations.[10] In his first season, Carlisle led the Pacers to the Central Division title and NBA's best regular-season record at 61–21 (74.4%), setting a franchise record for wins (both in the NBA and ABA). In the playoffs, the team eliminated the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. That year, Carlisle coached the East All-Stars at the All-Star Game.[11]
The Pacers slipped to a .500 record in 2005–06 and barely made the playoffs, losing in the first round. Despite this, Bird and Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh did not hold Carlisle responsible for the Pacers' lackluster performances in the past two seasons, signing him to a multiyear contract extension and giving him the title of executive vice president of basketball operations.[12]
After the Pacers finished the 2006–07 season with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997, Bird fired Carlisle. Carlisle understood the decision, saying that the Pacers needed "a new voice." In four seasons with the Pacers, he compiled a 181–147 record.[13] The Pacers offered to let Carlisle stay on in the front office, but Carlisle also resigned that post on June 12, 2007.[14]
After leaving Indiana, Carlisle worked as a studio analyst for ESPN[15] before signing with the Dallas Mavericks as the team's new head coach.
In the regular season, the Mavericks finished with a record of 50–32. In the playoffs, the team pulled off a first round upset win against the San Antonio Spurs, then lost to the Denver Nuggets 1–4 in the Western Conference semifinals.[4][17]
The next year, Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a 55–27 record, first in Southwest Division and second in the Western Conference, but lost in the first round to the Spurs in the 2010 NBA playoffs.
In the 2011 NBA Finals, Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a 4–2 series victory over the Miami Heat for the franchise's first championship.[18]
2012–2018: Post–championship success
In the 2012 playoffs, the Mavericks were swept by the Thunder in the first round. On May 15, 2012, Carlisle agreed to a new four-year deal with the Mavericks.
In 2013, the Mavericks finished 41–41 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
In 2014, Carlisle led the Mavericks back to the playoffs as the eighth seed with a 49–33 record where they would meet the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Mavericks lost in seven games and the Spurs went on to win the 2014 NBA Finals.[19]
In 2015, the Mavericks finished 50–32, but were defeated in five games by the Houston Rockets in the first round.
On January 30, 2015, Carlisle recorded his 600th win in a game against the Miami Heat.[20] On November 1, 2015, Carlisle recorded his 340th win as Mavericks coach, passing Don Nelson as the winningest coach in franchise history.[21] Four days later, Carlisle signed a new five-year deal with Dallas on November 5, 2015.
In 2016, the Mavericks finished sixth in the Western Conference, but were defeated in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On December 2, 2017, Carlisle recorded his 700th win in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.[22]
On January 13, 2021, Carlisle recorded his 800th win in a game against the Charlotte Hornets.[23]
In 2021, the Mavericks made the playoffs for the second consecutive year, again set to play the Los Angeles Clippers. This year, the Mavericks entered as the 5th seed in the Western Conference and as Division Champions but lost in seven games to the Clippers.
On June 17, 2021, Carlisle stepped down as the Mavericks' head coach with two years remaining on his contract.[24][25]
Return to Indiana (2021–present)
On June 24, 2021, Carlisle was hired as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, returning to the franchise for a second stint. His contract was a reported $29 million over four years.[26]
Carlisle married pediatrician Dr. Donna Nobile in 2000.[30] They have a daughter, Abby, born c. 2005.[31] Carlisle is an avid pianist and private pilot, who as of September 2015 had logged nearly 200 hours flying his Cirrus SR22T single-engine light aircraft.[32][33]
