Rick Carlisle was hired Wednesday as the Indiana Pacers' new coach, three years after the former assistant was bypassed in favor of Isiah Thomas.

Carlisle, coach of the Detroit Pistons the past two years, was fired by the Pistons in May. He was the first choice for the Pacers after new president Larry Bird, his former Boston teammate, fired Thomas last month.

"I know our fans are familiar with him, and I look forward to a great year," Bird said in a statement. "He has tremendous knowledge of the game, and I firmly believe he is the right coach for this team."