Billy Donovan hired to be Chicago Bulls’ head coach

Billy Donovan was only out of a job for a couple weeks. The former OKC Thunder head coach was announced Tuesday as the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Donovan went 261-180 and reached the Playoffs in all five seasons at the helm of the Thunder.

Donovan moved up to the NBA ranks in 2015 and immediately took OKC, then led by both Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook, to the Western Conference Finals in year one. He followed that up with four-straight First Round exits, but was still able to field a competitive team despite losing both stars over the last several years.

Prior to OKC, Donovan was a decorated college coach who won back-to-back NCAA Championships with the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007. He briefly left Gainesville for the Orlando Magic job back in 2007 before changing his mind last a week later, but it became clear that his aspirations laid in the pro game.

The Bulls have not made the Playoffs since 2017 and finished each of the last three seasons well below .500. Donovan will inherit a young team still in the midst of a rebuild but now under new management, led by newly hired Executive VP Artūras Karnišovas and GM Marc Eversley.

credit to the Chicago Bulls for the image