Billy Donovan isout as head coach of the Chicago Bullsafter six seasons, the team announced Tuesday, April 21.
Donovan had an option year on his contract to coach the Bulls next season, but decided to leave the position. Chicago is still in the process of looking for a person to head up its basketball operations after the team fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley.
"Through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new Head of Basketball Operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That is the kind of person Billy is – he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf partially said in a statement.
The 60-year-old Donovan went 226-256 in his tenure in Chicago, and the Bulls missed the postseason in each of the last four years.
"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 theChicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold," Donovan said in a statement. "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. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent."
Before coaching the Bulls, Donovan spent five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he compiled a 243-157 record, with the team making the playoffs in each season.
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Coaching candidates to replace Billy Donovan as Bulls coach
While the Bulls are nowhere near deciding who will lead them for the 2026-27 season and beyond, speculation can run rampant about who should be the next coach. Here are five candidates who could be a fit in Chicago.
Wes Unseld, Jr.
Unseld, who was the Washington Wizards' head coach from 2021–2024, was Donovan's top assistant this season.
Johnnie Bryant
Bryant, 40, was close to securing the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns jobs last year after being a finalist for both. He has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson
Sam Cassell
It seems like Cassell's name pops up every offseason as a candidate for head coaching jobs. He definitely deserves a chance at leading a team, with experience as an assistant with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He has been on the Boston Celtics' staff for the past three years.
Tom Thibodeau
A return to Chicago would certainly be interesting for Thibodeau, who coached the team from 2010 to 2015. Thibodeau is 68 years old, not one to change his philosophy, and was unceremoniously dumped after leading the New York Knicks to the conference finals last year.
Taylor Jenkins
The Bulls might be in full rebuild mode, and Jenkins would certainly fit in by bringing out the best in the Bulls players, as he did when he led the Memphis Grizzlies. In six seasons in Memphis, he led them to three playoff appearances, but couldn't get past the conference semifinals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls coach: Candidates to replace him
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