Rick Carlisle took the fall Wednesday for the team’s worst season since 1989, but Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird didn’t hesitate to point fingers at others, including himself.

Saying it was “time for a new era,” Bird removed Carlisle as the head coach but gave him the option of finishing the final year of his contract in the front office. Carlisle has until June 15 to accept or possibly pursue another coaching position.

Bird gave no timetable for selecting the team’s fourth head coach since 1997 but expressed interest in several NBA assistants.

Both men characterized Carlisle’s removal as anticipated and mutually agreed upon after the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons and finished with their worst record since 1988-89.

Indy Star