Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, will step down as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) at the end of this month. He will be succeeded by J.B. Bickerstaff, the current head coach of the Detroit Pistons. Carlisle confirmed his decision on Monday night before a game in Boston, stating that he had made this choice approximately a year ago.
“This is my 20th year. My term will end at the end of this month,” Carlisle said. “We’ve held our elections, and the membership has made a tremendous and phenomenal choice to succeed me, and that’s going to be J.B. Bickerstaff.” The 66-year-old coach is also on the verge of achieving a significant milestone, being just one victory away from his 1,000th career win.
Carlisle expressed high regard for Bickerstaff, emphasizing his leadership qualities. “J.B. is not only a trusted friend of mine and many, many coaches, he’s proven to be a great leader,” Carlisle noted. He highlighted Bickerstaff’s ability to excel in challenging circumstances, referencing his successful tenure in Cleveland, where he transformed a struggling team into a playoff contender. “The job he did in Cleveland, taking that team from the lottery to winning in the playoffs was phenomenal,” Carlisle added.
Bickerstaff, aged 46, began his coaching career as an assistant for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. He served as an associate head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies before being promoted to interim head coach in November 2017 and eventually becoming the head coach in May 2018. Following a brief stint with the Grizzlies, he took over as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2020, after John Beilein resigned. Most recently, he was appointed as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons on July 3, 2024.
In his remarks, Carlisle congratulated Bickerstaff on his new role, stating, “This will be a life-changing experience for him. It has been for me.” He also acknowledged Bickerstaff’s father, Bernie Bickerstaff, a respected figure in the NBA with a long coaching career. Carlisle expressed his desire to see Bernie recognized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, saying, “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 pass the torch, Bickerstaff is set to take the helm of the NBCA, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to the development of basketball coaching at all levels.
