Question: During the 2003–04 NBA season, newly named President of Basketball Operations fired which former Detroit Pistons player from his position as head coach of the Indiana Pacers?
Context: The 2003–04 NBA season was the Pacers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th season as a franchise.  During the offseason, former Pacers head coach Larry Bird was named President of Basketball Operations.  One of Bird's first moves in his new position was to fire head coach Isiah Thomas, after Thomas had led the Pacers to first-round playoff exits for three consecutive years.  The defensive-minded Rick Carlisle, former head coach of the Detroit Pistons, was announced as Thomas' replacement.  Also during the offseason, the Pacers acquired Scot Pollard from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade and signed free agent Kenny Anderson. The 2004–05 NBA season was the 64th season for the Pistons, the 57th in the National Basketball Association, and the 48th in the Detroit area.  During the offseason, the Pistons signed free agent Antonio McDyess.  Coming off their upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Pistons began the season playing around .500.  However, things would get worse on November 19 in a game against the Indiana Pacers, when a brawl erupted between Pacers players and Pistons fans after Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into a shoving match.  As the season progressed, the Pistons would post an 11-game winning streak near the end of the season, and would eventually finished first overall in the Central Division, and second overall in the Eastern Conference with a 54–28 record.  Ben Wallace was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time, and was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. The 2000–01 NBA season was the Pacers' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season as a franchise.  During the offseason, the Pacers hired former Indiana University and Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas as Head Coach, while acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from the Portland Trail Blazers.  With the departures of veteran players from the team that reached the Finals last year, the Pacers struggled playing mediocre basketball for most of the season, and finished fourth in the Central Division with a record of 41–41.  To qualify for the playoffs, the Pacers needed to win 9 of their final 11 games to secure the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference.  Last year's Most Improved Player Jalen Rose continued to lead the team in scoring averaging 20.5 points per game.  In the playoffs, the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers would need only four games to eliminate the Pacers.  Following the season, Sam Perkins retired and Derrick McKey signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. Richard Preston Carlisle ( ; born October 27, 1959) is an American basketball coach and former player.  He is the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).  He has also served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.  As a player, Carlisle played for the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.  He is also one of only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach. The 2003–04 NBA season was the 63rd season for the Pistons, the 56th in the National Basketball Association, and the 47th in the Detroit area.  Despite a solid year last season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, which they obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies.  They selected Darko Miličić as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench.  After their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1991, the Pistons hired Larry Brown as head coach.  Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January.  However, after a solid 33–16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games.  At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks after playing just one game for them.  With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54–28 record.  Ben Wallace was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. Tremaine Fowlkes (born April 11, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player at the small forward position.  Fowlkes was drafted out of Fresno State by the Denver Nuggets with the 54th pick of the 1998 NBA draft, though he did not make an NBA on-court appearance until the 2001-02 season.  He has played for the Los Angeles Clippers (two seasons), Detroit Pistons (one season, winning the 2003-04 championship) and Indiana Pacers (one season) of the NBA, averaging 3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 103 career games.  He also appeared for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2004 preseason. Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961) is an American retired basketball player who played professionally for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).  A point guard, the 12-time NBA All-Star was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  Thomas has also been a professional and collegiate head coach, a basketball executive, and a broadcaster. The 2003–04 NBA season was the Warriors' 58th season in the National Basketball Association, and 42nd season in the San Francisco Bay Area.  During the offseason, the Warriors acquired Nick Van Exel from the Dallas Mavericks, and Clifford Robinson from the Detroit Pistons while signing free agents Calbert Cheaney and Speedy Claxton.  The Warriors began to show they were turning the corner as they got off to a 14–13 start.  However, as the New Year began, they went on a 7-game losing streak.  Despite a nine-game losing streak between February and March, the Warriors would then win seven straight games.  However, they yet again missed the playoffs by finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 37–45 record.  Despite their record, the Warriors were very successful at home posting a 27–14 record at The Arena in Oakland.  Following the season, head coach Eric Musselman was fired, Van Exel was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Erick Dampier was traded to the Dallas Mavericks as the Warriors were unable to re-sign him. The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association.  During the offseason, the Knicks signed All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo in free agency.  The Knicks started the season by losing seven of their first nine games as fans at the Garden chanted "Fire Layden", in reference to general manager Scott Layden.  Knicks fans would get their wish as Layden was fired and replaced by former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas. The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Pistons' 52nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 43rd season in the city of Detroit.  During the offseason, the Pistons re-signed free agents Terry Mills and Michael Curry.  After the retirement of Joe Dumars, the Pistons were now led by Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse as they provided a 1-2 scoring punch, and were both selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game.  However, as the season wounded down, Hill suffered a devastating ankle injury.  Head coach Alvin Gentry was fired after a 28–30 start, and was replaced with George Irvine as the Pistons finished fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.  In the first round of the playoffs, they were swept by the Miami Heat in three straight games.  Following the season, Hill was traded to the Orlando Magic, Lindsey Hunter was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, Christian Laettner was dealt along with Loy Vaught to the Dallas Mavericks, and Mills signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.
Answer: Isiah Thomas