Spurs assistant Mike Brown is leaving the team to join the staff of new Indiana coach Rick Carlisle.

Brown, who is considered one of the league's more promising young coaches, will be Carlisle's top assistant. Carlisle was named coach of the Pacers on Wednesday, one week after the team fired Isiah Thomas. Carlisle spent the past two seasons coaching Detroit, which fired him in June.

"In my short career, it was the toughest decision I've had to make," Brown said.

Former Spurs guard Mario Elie is among the candidates the team is considering to replace Brown. Elie worked with the Spurs' staff during training camp last year and organized scrimmages and workout sessions for NBA players in Houston this summer.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has not had a former NBA player on his staff since Paul Pressey left for Orlando after the 1999-2000 season. Popovich hired P.J. Carlesimo as his top assistant last summer. Mike Budenholzer, who has been an assistant for Popovich the past seven years, and director of player development Brett Brown also remain on staff.