In a stunning development out of the NBA, former Indiana Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren has officially returned to the franchise—but not on the sidelines. Sources close to the organization confirm that Bjorkgren has been appointed to represent current GM Chad Buchanan while also taking on the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers.
The unexpected move was announced earlier today by team owner Herb Simon and President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard in a press conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The decision comes amid ongoing restructuring efforts within the front office, as the Pacers continue to retool their organizational leadership heading into the 2025–26 NBA season.
A Familiar Face Returns
Bjorkgren, who served as head coach of the Pacers during the 2020–21 season, had a rocky tenure that ended after just one year. Despite the brief stint, insiders say Bjorkgren maintained strong relationships with several key figures in the organization, including Buchanan and Pritchard. In recent years, he has held various advisory and assistant roles across the league, including consulting stints in Toronto and Sacramento.
“Bringing Nate back was about more than familiarity—it was about vision, leadership, and innovation,” said Kevin Pritchard. “He has a sharp basketball mind, and his understanding of both player development and analytics makes him uniquely qualified to step into this expande
d role
