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The 10 Greatest Coaches in Indiana Pacers History

By Jon Washburn

Mar 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel calls out a play from the bench in the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers by the score of 123-111. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel calls out a play from the bench in the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers by the score of 123-111. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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#7. Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas /

Overall: 131-115  

Playoff Record: 5-10

  • 2000-01: 41-41  8th (out of 15) in the East; 1-3 in Playoffs
  • 2001-02: 42-40  8th (out of 15) in the East; 2-3 in Playoffs
  • 2002-03: 48-34  3rd (out of 15) in the East; 2-4 in Playoffs

In all honesty, Thomas probably deserves to be even lower on this list than seventh.

In 2000, he took the reigns from Larry Bird on a team that made the Finals the year before, and promptly ran them in to mediocrity. Sure, Mark Jackson and Chris Mullin had gone, but the Pacers were still reasonably loaded. Going 41-41 with that roster was unconscionable.

Things never got better for Isiah, who was routinely out-coached tactically and never figured out basic rotations and roles for his star players.

In 2003, the team improved slightly, but proceeded to lose to a Celtics team that was supremely outclassed. The Pacers probably had ten of the twelve best players in the entire series, and still lost in just six games despite home court advantage.

Thomas made the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the Pacers, but his tenure was nothing short of a resounding disappointment.

Next: Up Next: #6. The Unheralded Bridge to Success

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