Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, will resign as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) at the end of this month, handing over the role to Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Carlisle made the announcement on Monday evening, just before the Pacers faced off against the Boston Celtics.
“I decided about a year ago that this would be my last year,” Carlisle stated. He highlighted that his tenure will conclude at the end of the month, marking his 20th year in this position. With the recent elections, he praised Bickerstaff as an excellent choice for his successor. “The membership has made a tremendous and phenomenal choice to succeed me and that’s going to be J.B. Bickerstaff,” he added.
Carlisle, who is currently one win away from achieving the milestone of 1,000 career coaching wins, expressed high regard for Bickerstaff. “J.B. is not only a trusted friend of mine and many coaches, he’s proven to be a great leader,” Carlisle said. He noted Bickerstaff’s ability to navigate challenging situations throughout his coaching career, including interim roles. “The job he did in Cleveland, taking that team from the lottery to winning in the playoffs was phenomenal,” Carlisle remarked. He also commended Bickerstaff’s work with the Pistons over the past year and a half, emphasizing his leadership qualities and passion for the profession.
Bickerstaff, 46, began his coaching journey as an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets in 2004. He progressed to become an associate head coach in Memphis, eventually taking over as the head coach on May 1, 2018. After a stint as Cleveland’s head coach starting in February 2020, he was appointed as the Pistons’ head coach on July 3, 2024.
Expressing his support for Bickerstaff, Carlisle said, “I congratulate J.B. This will be a life-changing experience for him. It has been for me.” Carlisle also took a moment to acknowledge Bickerstaff’s father, **Bernie Bickerstaff**, who, at 81, is a respected figure in the NBA with a long career as a coach and front office executive. Carlisle expressed his desire to see Bernie recognized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, stating, “We’re behind the scenes working trying to help Bernie be recognized by the Hall of Fame as a contributor. There are so many ways that he influenced the game.”
As Carlisle prepares to step down, the coaching community looks forward to Bickerstaff’s leadership and the direction he will take the NBCA in the coming years.
