Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, has announced that he will step down as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) at the end of March 2023. Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been selected to succeed him. Carlisle made the announcement on March 27, just prior to the Pacers’ game against the Boston Celtics.
“I decided about a year ago that this would be my last year,” Carlisle stated. “This is my 20th year. My term will end at the end of this month. We’ve held our elections, and the membership has made a tremendous choice to succeed me, and that’s going to be J.B. Bickerstaff.”
Carlisle, who is on the verge of achieving his 1,000th career coaching victory, praised Bickerstaff as an exceptional leader and friend. “He’s proven to be a great leader,” Carlisle remarked. “He’s had to take over difficult situations in his career, including interim coaching positions. The job he did in Cleveland, taking that team from the lottery to winning in the playoffs, was phenomenal.”
Bickerstaff, aged 46, began his coaching career with the Charlotte Hornets in 2004 as an assistant. He later served as an associate head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies before being named interim head coach on November 27, 2017. He officially became the Grizzlies’ head coach on May 1, 2018. In February 2020, Bickerstaff was promoted to head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers following the resignation of John Beilein. Most recently, he was appointed as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons on July 3, 2024.
Carlisle conveyed his congratulations to Bickerstaff, expressing that this role will be transformative. “This will be a life-changing experience for him. It has been for me,” he noted.
In a personal touch, Carlisle also mentioned his hopes for Bickerstaff’s father, Bernie Bickerstaff, who is 81 years old and has a notable history as an NBA coach. Carlisle expressed his desire to see Bernie recognized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. “We’re behind the scenes working to help Bernie be recognized as a contributor,” Carlisle said. “There are so many ways that he influenced the game.”
As Carlisle prepares to conclude his tenure with the NBCA, his impact on the organization and its members remains evident. Bickerstaff’s upcoming presidency is anticipated to bring fresh perspectives and continued leadership within the coaching community.
