The Pacers’ Answer: The Rifleman

Forget the Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell. Forget the Suns’ assistant coach Marc Iavaroni. Forget former Portland and Sacramento coach Rick Adelman.

There is one clear-cut answer that will not only lead the Pacers to new heights, but will hold the players accountable for their on-and-off courts actions and will get the city of Indianapolis excited about the Pacers once again.

The answer: The Rifleman, Chuck Person.

Person was drafted fourth overall by the Pacers in 1986 and played in Indianapolis until 1992.

After stints with Minnesota, San Antonio, Charlotte and Seattle, Person retired in 2000 to pursue a career in coaching.

He landed in Indianapolis – first as a team consultant – and was eventually hired by team president Larry Bird to be an assistant coach for Rick Carlisle.

After Carlisle’s firing, Mitchell and Iavaroni’s names have emerged as the front-runners, but the Pacers should take a hard look at Person if they want a team this city can re-embrace.

During Person’s stint as a Pacer, he brought excitement, enthusiasm, unpredictability and leadership, which are qualities the Pacers lacked under the Carlisle regime.

Person has no head coaching experience, but neither did Larry Bird before he guided the Pacers to three of the most successful seasons in the franchise’s history, which culminated with a loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in 2000.

Person’s inexperience would be his biggest downfall, but just like President George W. Bush, he would need to be surrounded by wise minds in order to succeed.

Among his best qualities is familiarity.

He is familiar with the city. He played and coached here for a combined eight years. He understands the expectations of the fans. Having lived in Indianapolis during the Colts’ run to the Super Bowl, he knows how this city will embrace a team after multiple disappointing seasons.

Can Person guide the Pacers to prominence and a return to the glory years of the last ‘90s?

Yes, he can.

Person is also familiar with the organization. After playing and coaching here, he understands the expectations of Mel and Herb Simon (owners), Donnie Walsh (CEO) and Larry Bird (club president). If the foursome of the Simons, Walsh and Bird want to keep the head coaching position “in-house,” they should look no further than the man who has sat on the bench as both coach and player.

Finally, Person is familiar with the team. He understands their strengths and weaknesses. He understands their talents and routines. Perhaps Person can transform Jamaal Tinsley from the troublesome, often-injured point guard into the star and leader he was at Iowa State where he earned Big-12 Player of the Year in 2001.

So, what exactly are the chances of Chuck “The Rifleman” Person as Carlisle’s replacement?

100 to 1? 50 to 1?

I think the odds are better than fans may think. The Pacers are always good for a shocker. Bringing in Larry Bird as head coach. Trading away Dale Davis for a then-unknown Jermaine O’Neal. Hiring Isiah Thomas as head coach.

The Pacers like to follow their own routine and refuse to follow the beaten path.

Realistically, I would put the odds of Person as the next Pacers coach at 5 to 1.

He has the hometown knowledge. He has the charisma. He has the attitude. He has the perseverance.

He is an assistant coach on the rise and the Pacers need to snatch him up before they make another mistake as they did with trading away Antonio Davis for Jonathan Bender.

Hiring Mitchell, Iavaroni, or Adelman would not be a bad decision, but hiring Person would be the right decision.

Person is the answer to all the Pacers’ questions.