Who Wants to Be Indiana’s Next Top Coach? A Full, Updated List of Who Larry Bird Might Hire
By Jared Wade
Larry Bird’s list of candidates to become the next Pacers coach is long, and it doesn’t sound like he will hire anyone immediately. Keep track of the search here.
After the fireworks yesterday, a lot of names were mentioned as possible candidates for replacing Frank Vogel as Indiana Pacers coach. Since the list read like a near unabridged database of every unemployed former head coach, I got the sense that we were not exactly hearing about any sort of search that was particularly focused at this point.
It sounds like Larry Bird plans to kick the tires on several options. And we probably shouldn’t expect any new hire announcement immediately since he said in his press conference that he hopes to talk with some people during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, which doesn’t begin until Wednesday, May 11.
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As mentioned previously, the dismissal of Frank Vogel seems less like, “I want this guy” and more like “I know longer want that guy.”
Pacers fans will hope that Larry Bird isn’t as disinterested in finding a new coach as Phil Jackson is. Fortunately, I don’t think Larry Bird takes vacations, and he certainly doesn’t post photos of the vacations he does take to social media.
But we might be here awhile.
Start out by reading about several of the initial candidates to become the next Pacers coach in a bit more depth.
Then buckle up for the ride, and let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter @8pts9Secs, who you think the Pacers (1) should hire, and (2) will hire.
We’ll try to keep using this page to track any progress about the status of the current candidates or the emergence or any new ones.
To recap, here are the names of candidates to become the next Pacers coach that we’ve heard from one or more reporters:
- Jim Boylen (listed by Ken Berger)
- Mike D’Antoni (listed by Candace Buckner, scheduled interview with Rockets)
- Ettore Messina (listed by Mitch Lawrence saying Pacers will “probably look” at Messina)
- Jeff Hornacek (listed by Ken Berger, scheduled interview with Rockets)
- Mark Jackson (listed by Candace Buckner)
- Nate McMillan (listed by Marc Stein and Candace Buckner, has an interview with the Kings)
- Brian Shaw (listed by Marc Stein and Candace Buckner, on Luke Walton’s wish list for assistants in Los Angeles)
- Randy Wittman (listed by Candace Buckner)
- Mike Woodson (listed by Candace Buckner)
Here are some interesting possible hires that have yet to be linked with the Pacers by any reporters, but who should nonetheless be on Indiana’s radar:
- David Blatt (canned by Cavs, took a team to the NBA Finals, seen as best candidate by one SI writer)
- Sam Cassell (Clippers assistant, interviewed with the Rockets, has best dance in NBA history)
- Jarron Collins (Warriors assistant, seen as future coach, more on him here)
- Chris Finch (Rockets assistant, interviewed with the Rockets)
- Nick Nurse (Raptors assistant, more on him here)
- Stephen Silas (Hornets assistant, more on him here, scheduled interview with Rockets)
- Sean Sweeney (Bucks assistant more on him here)
- Nate Tibbetts (Blazers assistant, more on him here)
- Jeff Van Gundy (he’s Jeff Van Gundy, but he also called Bird “disrespectful” so this feels unlikely)
- College coaches collectively (I don’t watch the free-labor cash-grab league and there is no indication Bird is considering anyone from the NCAA, but there must be another Brad Stevens somewhere)
And here is the list of people we know will not be the next Pacers coach:
- Kevin McHale (ruled out by Larry Bird at the Fire Vogel press conference)
- Dave Joerger (Pacers listed as potentially “in the mix” by David Aldridge, but he signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Kings)
If you see any other names officially linked with the Pacers that are not listed here, or have interesting suggestions about people Bird needs to put on his radar, talk to us on Twitter via @8pts9Secs, or leave a note in the comments below.