The guy who replaced Rick Carlisle as the Indiana Pacers coach back in 2007 will now join Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks and Jim O’Brien have come to an agreement on a multi-year deal to make him the new Lead Assistant on Carlisle’s staff. He was the Mavericks top candidate just a week ago after Terry Stotts was hired by the Portland Trail Blazers as their new head coach.
Carlisle was determined to find a top Assistant who had head coaching experience. Not to many guys available right now who are more qualified than O’Brien. I think this is a great fit for both sides as the players and coaches will better with this new addition.
Jim was fired by the Pacers after they failed to make the playoffs for three straight seasons after the 2010-2011 season. He was the head coach of the Boston Celtics from 2001-2004, coaching them to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2002 season. He was hired as head coach by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2004-2005 season. He coached the Sixers to the playoffs in his one season, but was fired to make way for Maurice Cheeks.
O’Brien is 60 years old, but still has plenty of coaching left in him. If succeeds in his new role he will be back to head coaching somewhere in no time.
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