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Carlisle played two years of college basketball at the University of Maine before transferring to the University of Virginia, where he co-captained the Cavaliers to the Final Four in 1984. After graduating that same year, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics, where he played alongside Larry Bird in the Celtics' 1985- 86 NBA Championship team. He posted modest numbers with the Celtics, averaging 2.2 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds per game while playing almost exclusively as a substitute.

In 1987, Carlisle was sent to the New York KnicksThe New York Knicks (or New York Knickerbockers are a National Basketball Association team based in New York, New York. Founded 1946, as part of the Basketball Association of America Formerly known as Home Arena Madison Square Garden Uniform colors Blue a and then played briefly with the New Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a National Basketball Association team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In 2004, the franchise was sold to Bruce Ratner, who announced plans to move it to Brooklyn, New York. Founded 1967, a founding member of the American Bas in 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day. before being offered an assistant coach position with the Nets, where he spent five seasons under Hall of FamersThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown extreme skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. A few entire teams have been inducted as well, including the Buffalo Ge Bill FitchBill Fitch (born 1935) is an NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. Fitch was a US Marine as a youngster, a fact that Larry Bird credited in his book Driven as an important reason for his stron and Chuck DalyChuck Daly (born July 20, 1930 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania) is a former basketball coach who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 9, 1994. He is famous for being the coach of the gold medal basketball Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Summer. In 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an, Carlisle joined the assistant coaching staff with the Portland Trail Blazers under coach P.J. Carlesimo , where he spent three seasons.

In 1997, Rick Carlisle joined the Indiana Pacers organization as an assistant coach under his former teammate, Larry Bird. During his time as the Pacers' offensive coordinator, he helped the Pacers to two of their best seasons ever. First, in 1997- 98, the Pacers stretched the Chicago Bulls to the limit, narrowly losing the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual champions. Then, in 1999- 2000, the Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird stepped down as coach, and pushed for Carlisle to be selected as his replacement, but the job went to Isiah Thomas.

For the 2001 season, Carlisle was recruited by the Detroit Pistons to be their new head coach. In two seasons as Pistons' head coach, Carlisle led them to consecutive 50-32 records (.610) and playoff appearances, and was thus named Coach of the Year in 2002. However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the 2002- 03 season with a year remaining on his contract and hired Larry Brown. Friction between Carlisle and team ownership was cited as one of the primary reasons for the seemingly inexplicable firing.

For the 2003- 04 season, Carlisle was once again hired by the Indiana Pacers to fill the head coaching vacancy left by Thomas, who was fired by Larry Bird in one of his first acts as the Pacers' new President of Basketball Operations. In his first season, Carlisle led the Pacers to the league's best regular-season record (61-21, .744) and playoff victories over the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat before losing to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.