Pacers promote Jim Boylen, add Johnny Carpenter to Rick Carlisle’s coaching staff
With Mike Weinar’s departure, Carlisle elevates Boylen to the front bench and brings in Carpenter, a UVA alum with NBA and college experience.
Three days after the shocking news that longtime NBA assistant Mike Weinar was not returning to the Pacers staff for the 2025-26 season, the team announced subsequent moves.
Jim Boylen has been promoted to the front of the bench, joining Lloyd Pierce and Jenny Boucek.
Boylen took a full-time role on Rick Carlisle’s staff two years ago. He works with several of the Pacers’ young players, along with Boucek on the defensive side.
Carlisle, who enters Year 5 with a new contract extension, quickly filled the staff vacancy by hiring Johnny Carpenter.
This is not Carpenter’s first stint around the Pacers. He spent time around them briefly in July 2022 for rookie/free-agent camp, working hand-ons with Isaiah Jackson and other young players.
The Carpenter File
Like Carlisle, Boucek and newcomer Jay Huff, he’s a proud University of Virginia alum. He holds not one, but three degrees from the illustrious university.
“He’s young enough where he can relate to the guys – he understands social media a lot better than I would,” said former Virginia coach Tony Bennett (via this feature on the university’s website). “He’s well-liked and is just a student of the game. He’s just continuing to grow and expand. I like guys like that, who are hungry.”
Carpenter got his start as a student manager at Virginia before joining Carlisle in Dallas as assistant video coordinator for the Mavericks during the 2014-15 season. He then returned to Virginia, rising through the ranks until moving to the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies last season.
Career Path
2009-13: Student Manger, UVa men’s basketball
2013-14: Graduate assistant, UVA women’s basketball
2014-15: Assistant video coordinator, Dallas Mavericks
2015-18: Technology assistant, UVa men’s basketball
2018-23: Director of player personnel, UVa men’s basketball
2023-24: Assistant coach, UVa men’s basketball
2024-25: Player development & scouting, Memphis Grizzlies
2025-26: Assistant coach, Pacers