Indiana Pacers, Rick Carlisle, Boston Celtics from

Indiana Pacers Fire Head Coach Rick Carlisle

Pacers part ways with Rick Carlisle after disappointing start to the season.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 117-112 Tuesday night in Indianapolis. The loss dropped the Pacers' record to 23-25 on the season, including an 11-15 mark at home. After the game, the Pacers announced they had fired head coach Rick Carlisle.

Carlisle's tenure in Indiana

Carlisle was hired by the Pacers in June 2021 after spending 13 seasons as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. He led the Pacers to a 39-43 record in his first season, but the team struggled to find consistency in 2022-23. The Pacers have been plagued by injuries this season, with several key players missing significant time. However, they have also been inconsistent on the court, struggling to find an identity on either end of the floor.

Assistant coach Jenkins named interim head coach

Assistant coach Kenny Jenkins has been named interim head coach of the Pacers. Jenkins has been with the team since 2021 and has a strong reputation as a player development coach. It is unclear how long Jenkins will remain the interim head coach. The Pacers are expected to conduct a coaching search in the offseason.

Pacers' future

The Pacers are now faced with the task of finding a new head coach. They will also need to address their roster, which has several holes. The Pacers have a number of talented young players, but they need to find a way to put it all together. With a new head coach in place, the Pacers will be looking to turn things around in the second half of the season.