All articles tagged with #billy donovan
The Chicago Bulls have hired Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan; Splitter, who had been Portland’s acting head coach and a rising development-focused coach, edged out other finalists as Chicago’s new leader.
The Chicago Bulls named Tiago Splitter as their new head coach after Billy Donovan resigned amid a broader front-office shakeup that included the firings of Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley. Splitter, who previously led Portland to the playoffs as an interim coach, arrives with the Bulls hoping his leadership, available draft assets, and a refreshed management group can end Chicago's playoff drought.
Dallas is reshaping under Masai Ujiri after parting ways with Jason Kidd, pursuing the 'next great coach' rather than a retread. The piece identifies three frontrunners: Sean Sweeney (Spurs assistant and former Mavericks assistant), Micah Nori (Timberwolves assistant), and Billy Donovan (veteran coach). Donovan is the marquee name, with James Borrego also floated; Ujiri aims to build a lasting, staff-led era in Dallas similar to his Toronto hires.
Donovan’s exit from the Bulls and Steve Kerr’s uncertainty illuminate a thin, unpredictable NBA coaching market, with Golden State suddenly the hottest vacancy while Donovan’s next move—college, another NBA gig, or retirement—remains highly speculative.
Billy Donovan stepped down as Chicago Bulls head coach after six seasons and a 31-51 finish, following discussions with ownership about the team’s future; the Bulls will search for a new head coach and top basketball-operations leadership, and Donovan, 60, is expected to be a top candidate for NBA openings.
Billy Donovan has stepped down as Chicago Bulls head coach after six seasons, opting not to exercise his contract option as the club begins a broader front-office overhaul led by a new Head of Basketball Operations. Donovan said the decision would let the new leader build out the staff; he finishes with a 226-256 record and one playoff appearance. The Bulls are now conducting a GM search and will hire a coach under the new leadership.
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan resigns after six seasons, kicking off a search for new leadership and a transition to a post-Donovan era.
The Chicago Bulls announced Billy Donovan is stepping away as head coach to let the franchise’s future basketball-operations leadership build out the staff. Ownership praised Donovan, and he expressed gratitude, saying the decision will help the Bulls’ future while the search for new leadership unfolds.
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan dismissed links to the North Carolina head coaching job, saying his focus is on Chicago and the upcoming game against the 76ers, while acknowledging ongoing speculation and the differences between college and NBA dynamics.
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan didn’t rule out interest in North Carolina’s coaching vacancy but said his focus is on Chicago, the Bulls’ current roster, and upcoming games after the trade deadline. The UNC job is generating buzz, with Donovan listed among potential candidates, but he emphasized he remains focused on his team for now.
NBA coach Billy Donovan is reportedly near the top of North Carolina’s list to replace Hubert Davis, with ESPN’s Borzello noting he could be the front-runner. UNC fired Davis after a five-year run that included a runner-up NCAA finish but a first-round exit this year. Donovan, who has a storied college past with Florida, is currently Chicago’s head coach, and his potential move would come as UNC also considers other candidates such as Tommy Lloyd, Dusty May, TJ Otzelberger, Todd Golden, and Nate Oats.
With the Bulls at 29-42 and 12th in the Eastern Conference, there is growing momentum that Billy Donovan could step away from coaching after this season, potentially taking a year off to reassess. The Bulls have struggled to maximize talent under GM Arturas Karnisovas, Donovan has endured personal losses, and while he has a strong coaching résumé, Chicago has only one playoff appearance in his six seasons.
ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg floated Billy Donovan and Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger as top UNC options after firing Hubert Davis, with Mark Byington also named; he suggested UNC must offer a strong package to attract a top coach, and noted some coaches like Todd Golden and Nate Oats may stay put. Davis went 125-54 in five seasons; after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2023, UNC went 29-8 and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2024.
North Carolina is conducting a high-stakes coaching search after firing Hubert Davis, reportedly weighing top outsiders such as Billy Donovan (the marquee name) while Brad Stevens appears out of consideration; other mentioned candidates include Tommy Lloyd, Dusty May, TJ Otzelberger, Todd Golden, and Nate Oats, signaling a potential break from UNC’s recent internal-hire pattern amid financial considerations in the search.
North Carolina has parted ways with Hubert Davis and will conduct a national search for its next head coach, eyeing elite candidates such as Tommy Lloyd, Billy Donovan, Dusty May, and T.J. Otzelberger. The process faces challenges including large buyouts, NIL costs, and UNC's funding constraints, and the school will use Turnkey ZRG to aid the search; two names reportedly not in consideration are Todd Golden and Nate Oats.