Dallas ? The Dallas Mavericks made it official Saturday, announcing they had hired Rick Carlisle to replace Avery Johnson as their coach.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations, said in a statement that Carlisle was “our top choice from the onset.”

A news conference is expected Wednesday, when owner Mark Cuban returns to Dallas.

Carlisle was the only candidate the Mavericks interviewed after firing Johnson the morning after their second straight first-round playoff exit.