In Brief : Versace Reportedly to Coach Pacers

NEW YORK —  Dick Versace, an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons, will be named head coach of the Indiana Pacers this week, the New York Post reported today.

A Pacer spokesman in Indianapolis called the report “very premature at this time.”

The Post said that Versace would get a three-year contract, which is still not signed, and that the official announcement would be made Thursday.

According Peter Vecsey, the newspaper’s pro basketball columnist, Versace beat Bill Blair of the Washington Bullets for the Pacers’ job.

George Irvine has been the team’s interim coach since the resignation of Jack Ramsay earlier this season.

Versace joined the Pistons in the summer of 1986 after eight seasons as coach of Bradley University.

Pacer media relations director Dale Ratermann said general manager Donnie Walsh “at this point is continuing to evaluate the situation and determine whether a coaching change is in order.”