Billy Donovan has resigned as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, the team announced on Tuesday. Donovan stepped aside rather than work with incoming leadership. Donovan stepped aside rather than work with the new leadership that will be hired to replace executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, who were dismissed near the end of the season. President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf had previously indicated his wish for Donovan to stay, even after those dismissals. Reinsdorf had stated that anyone seeking to bring in a new coach was 'probably not the right candidate for us.' It now appears the incoming head of the organization will have the opportunity to bring in a new coach.
Donovan, 60, has consistently affirmed his passion for coaching. He was considered a top candidate when the Bulls hired him in September 2020, shortly after Karnisovas and Eversley took their roles. Under Donovan's leadership, Chicago made a single playoff appearance in the 2021-22 season, finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference before being eliminated by Milwaukee in the first round. The team subsequently lost in the play-in tournament for the next three consecutive years. Donovan received a contract extension last offseason.
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. Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved.
Michael Reinsdorf attributed the team's issues to roster construction rather than the coach. The previous front office, led by Karnisovas, faced criticism for its inability to secure a franchise cornerstone player and its reluctance to rebuild. A shift in strategy occurred before this year’s trade deadline, involving trades that saw Nikola Vucevic move to Boston, Kevin Huerter to Detroit, Coby White to Charlotte, and Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota. These deals primarily yielded second-round draft picks, with no first-rounders in return.
The Bulls have not yet announced who will be the new head of basketball operations or the next head coach. The timeline for hiring new basketball operations leadership remains unclear, and the impact of Donovan's resignation on the team's current players and future strategy is yet to be determined. Donovan's departure marks a significant transition for the franchise as it seeks to rebuild under new leadership.