---

Rothstein now assistant coach under Isiah Thomas

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Pacers announced Friday the hiring of Ron Rothstein as an assistant coach. Rothstein joins Coach Isiah Thomas' staff as a replacement for Brendan Malone, who joined the New York Knicks' staff as an assistant coach.

"We're fortunate to have Ron," said Thomas. "He's a great addition to the staff. He has great experience in the NBA. I know when he was an assistant with the Pistons and I was a player, I was very impressed with his knowledge of the game, particularly at the professional level."

"Ron Rothstein is a very qualified and experienced coach with more than 20 years of experience," said Pacers Chief Executive Officer and President Donnie Walsh. "We're very lucky to have him."

Rothstein previously had been the head coach/general manager of the Miami Sol in the WNBA before that franchise ceased operations prior to the 2003 season. He came into the NBA in 1979 as a scout with Atlanta and held a similar position with the New York Knicks before joining Mike Fratello with the Hawks as an assistant coach in 1983. From there, Rothstein became an assistant with the Detroit Pistons in 1986 before becoming the Miami Heat's first coach in 1988.

After improving the expansion Heat's victory total each season in three seasons, Rothstein coached the Pistons in 1992-93, then became an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers for six seasons before returning to Miami to coach the Sol in 2000.

"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to come to work for the Pacers' organization," said Rothstein, who also was a high school teacher and coach for 19 years in New York after playing collegiately at Rhode Island. "I'm not sure that it gets any better than to have the chance to work with Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas and the rest of the Pacers' staff as well as with a talented team. Hopefully, we'll have a great year."