Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is the oldest active NBA coach during the 2026 season. He turned 66 years old on Oct. 27.
Carlisle has been an NBA head coach for 24 seasons, dating back to his first gig at 42 with the Detroit Pistons in 2001-02. He’s led the Pacers for nine campaigns, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2024-25.
Counting Carlisle, 11 of the 30 head coaches are 55 years or older in 2026.
Oldest NBA Coaches 2026
| Coach | Team | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Carlisle | Pacers | 66 |
| Doc Rivers | Bucks | 64 |
| Billy Donovan | Bulls | 60 |
| Steve Kerr | Warriors | 60 |
| Quin Snyder | Hawks | 59 |
| Kenny Atkinson | Cavaliers | 58 |
| Nick Nurse | 76ers | 58 |
| Chris Finch | Timberwolves | 56 |
| Mike Brown | Knicks | 56 |
| Doug Christie | Kings | 55 |
| Erik Spoelstra | Heat | 55 |
Who is the Oldest NBA Coach in History?
Gregg Popovich, who left the San Antonio Spurs in 2025 at 77, is the oldest coach in NBA history. He passed the previous record held by Hubie Brown, who was 71 during his final game with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Popovich is the NBA’s winningest coach with 1,412 regular-season victories. He’s also won 170 playoff games and five NBA championships.
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