Former Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Tuesday resigned his position as executive vice president of basketball operations, creating time for him to at least interview for the Seattle SuperSonics? vacant coaching position.
However, Carlisle later in the day denied his resignation had anything to do with the Sonics? situation.
?I just want to state for the record that this was a procedural move involving the Indiana Pacers,? said Carlisle, reached on his cell phone in Bristol, Conn., where he was working as an analyst for ESPN. ?There was a date involved with my contract, and I had to let the Pacers know of my decision by that date.
?This in no way has anything to do with the Sonics? coaching position or any other position.?
Sources close to the Pacers said Carlisle?s split with the organization was a foregone conclusion for some time and that Tuesday?s move simply made it official.