Chuck Person as Indiana Pacers Coach?

Now that the Indiana Pacers seem intent on the losing the rest of their games this season, the bud is off the rose of Hoosiers' love affair with interim head coach Frank Vogel. While there is still a good chance that the Pacers make it to the playoffs this year (thank you, Charlotte Bobcats), there is also a decent probability that Vogel won't be around next season. Names of possible Pacers coaching candidates have begun to bubble to the surface of the Indy sports community once again, and a very interesting one surfaced recently: Chuck Person. I'd never really considered Person a possibility before, but does he make any sense for this team?

Well, my honest impression of Person during his playing days with the Pacers (1986-1992) was that he was a loud-mouthed, self-centered jerk. I'm sure part of that was the stark contrast he created with the rest of Indiana's pre-goodness milquetoast roster, and I'd probably have liked him more (or some) had he been part of the winning that started a year or so after he left town. I didn't view the timing of those two events as coincidental, either.

Nevertheless, Person has logged time as an assistant coach, first here in Indianapolis under Rick Carlisle, and then with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers. By most accounts, he brings a lot of energy to the job, and Phil Jackson credits most of the Lakers' recent stout defensive play to the more active and aggressive role by Person in working with the players. I think the Pacers could stand a little defensive infusion of their own right about now.

Whether Person is ultimately a serious candidate for the Pacers' job this time around depends, at least in part, on Larry Bird's future plans. Bird and Person had a well-publicized and long-running feud during their playing days, and it's unclear how well a professional relationship would work out. Person interviewed for the Pacers' post when Carlisle was fired, but he wasn't able to nab it. Could be that the continued presence of Larry Legend would diminish Chuck's chances once again.

If Frank Vogel is not granted the permanent job outright after this season, then we'll see all sorts of speculation about who will be the next head man in Indiana. For a combination of energy, swagger, youth, and pedigree, ol' Chuck might be the Person to beat.