The lone championship coach in the Dallas Mavericks' 32-year history isn't going anywhere. Rick Carlisle has agreed to a four-year contract that will keep him in charge through at least the 2015-16 season.

"I'm very happy for the opportunity to return," Rick Carlisle said during an appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's "Galloway & Co." "This wouldn't be possible without great players. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, (Shawn) Marion, all these guys made this possible, along with (owner) Mark (Cuban) and (president of basketball operations) Donnie (Nelson)."

Carlisle's current four-year contract was set to expire at the end of June despite having guided the Mavs to the 2011 NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat in his third season with the team. While his Miami counterpart, Erik Spoelstra, was rewarded with an extension prior to the start of this season, Carlisle entered it in a similar situation to half of his roster, with no assurances beyond this season.

Throughout the season, owner Mark Cuban stuck to his stated policy of not extending contracts of players or coaches.

"We are excited that Rick will be back with the Mavericks for at least the next four years," Cuban said in a statement. "He is a proven winner, a great teacher and a coach that will help the Mavericks improve as a team and as an organization."

Any speculation that Carlisle wanted to test free agency, perhaps eyeing a return to the Portland Trail Blazers where he once served as an assistant, was put to rest Tuesday. The new four-year deal comes five months after Carlisle, 198-114 with Dallas, raised the championship banner to the American Airlines Center rafters and less than two weeks since the reigning champs were swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.