Report: Carlisle to be named coach of Mavericks

by PETER VECSEY and TIM BONTEMPS , New York Post

Updated: May 3, 2008, 1:03 PM EST 145 comments

Sources told The New York Post Friday night that the former Pacer and Piston coach, who interviewed with Walsh for the Knicks coaching job Wednesday, has agreed to terms with the Mavericks to replace Avery Johnson.

"We've had a productive series of meetings," Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told the Associated Press, stopping short of confirming the report. "We're very impressed by Rick — not just as a basketball coach, but as a man."

Johnson, who was 194-70 during the regular season and 23-24 in the playoffs over 3½ seasons in Dallas, was fired after the Mavericks fell to the Hornets in five games in the first round of the playoffs — the second straight first-round exit for the team.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wasted little time in his search for a new coach. After firing Johnson on Wednesday, Cuban quickly moved to interview and then hire Carlisle.

The 49-year-old Carlisle ran the Pistons from 2001-03, going 100-64 in the regular season and 12-15 in the playoffs. He also was named the 2001-02 NBA Coach of the Year.

After Carlisle was fired by Detroit and replaced by Larry Brown following the 2002-03 season, he was hired by Walsh to coach the Pacers. In four seasons with Indiana, Carlisle was 181-147 in the regular season and 18-17 in the playoffs.

Carlisle was fired by Indiana after the team went 35-47 in 2006-07, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.