The organization expressed a strong desire to retain head coach Billy Donovan, who had been with the team since 2020. In early April, the Bulls made it clear they wanted Donovan to keep his job despite making major changes at other leadership positions. His role wasn’t in question.
“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach. If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us,” said CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf after the organization announced the front office changes. That’s how sold he was on Donovan.
Stepping down
But Donovan never confirmed his intention to stay in Chicago – he was to meet with the leadership about his future with the Bulls, and after a couple of weeks of talks and consideration, he ultimately decided to step down and move on.
“After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold,” said Donovan. “I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit.”
The former head coach was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2025. He’s spent 11 seasons in the NBA; Donovan started his stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he coached the team for five years and went 243-157. With Donovan in charge, the Thunder made the playoffs every season.
A bigger challenge in Illinois
It was a massively different situation in Chicago. The 60-year-old leader took over a struggling squad six years ago, and the goal was to restore competitiveness. Donovan did improve the team record in his debut year and then punched a postseason ticket in his second season on Chicago’s bench.
But that proved to be the ceiling for Donovan and the Bulls.
Over the next four years, the Bulls hovered around mediocrity. They finished near .500 three straight seasons and reached the play-in tournament each time but failed to advance. Overall, Donovan was 226-256 with the Bulls in his six-year campaign.
The latest season was disastrous and resulted in major changes that took place before the regular season even ended. After a hot, 7-1 start, the Bulls once again fell into the hole of average. By January, they returned to their traditional .500 mark. But injuries struck, and the struggle grew bigger.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage the season, the front office traded away seven players.
However, the move backfired and turned out to be detrimental. The Bulls lost eight straight games after the trade deadline, and the new-looking team never found rhythm or chemistry. Chicago won just seven games since early February, and their record was below average.
So, the front office clearance took place.
Still, the organization trusted Donovan and wanted him to return. But Donovan saw things in a different light, choosing to seek new challenges. His departure completed a leadership sweep.
The Bulls are now looking for a new vice president, general manager, and head coach.
“While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new Basketball Operations leadership,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved.”
Fresh start
Now, the Bulls face a critical turning point. All three pieces came together, and together they departed. An era has ended. But now the Bulls get a chance to start with a clean slate and lay the foundation again. What is certain - the owners need to get this right. After a decade of struggling, they have a shot to bring back a dynasty that was once feared in the NBA.
The search for the next leaders has begun.
Donovan shared his intention to keep coaching. He’s emphasized he’s not retiring. There’s no denying he will receive interest from other NBA teams, as well as collegiate programs. The New York native spent 25 seasons in the NCAA, including a 19-year tenure and back-to-back national championships in Florida. He was heavily targeted by the University of North Carolina earlier in the spring, but Donovan chose to honor his contract and commitment to the Bulls. Last offseason, he received interest from the New York Knicks.
Donovan’s case ends on a positive note – with a handshake, not firing. Both parties are getting a fresh start, parting ways with mutual respect.
