Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls head coach after six seasons
Billy Donovan isn't sticking around for a new Bulls regime.
Donovan is exiting the franchise after six seasons and four straight campaigns with a losing record and without a playoff appearance, the team announced Tuesday morning.
His departure comes after the team recently dismissed executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley en route to 31-51 season.
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in the release that the franchise wanted Donovan to return, but he instead used the option in his contract to instead vacate the role, per ESPN.
"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," Donovan said in a team release.
"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."
Donovan, 60, led the Bulls to a 226-256 record in his tenure, with the team finishing below .500 in five of those seasons and only making the playoffs in the 2021-22 campaign.
The Bulls fired Karnisovas and Eversley on April 6, but they hoped for some continuity with their coach, with president Michael Reinsdorf saying in a statement they "clearly wanted" him to return.
Chicago tried to accommodate Donovan to keep him with the team, even offering him a "new managerial capacity," per ESPN, but he opted to move on.
"Billy Donovan is one of the finest people and coaches I have had the privilege of knowing and working with. He brought class and genuine care to this organization that made a real impact on people. We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach - that was never in question," Reinsdorf said. "But 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."
Donvoan joined the Bulls after a five-year stretch with the Thunder from 2015-20 that included a postseason trip in each season.
He jumped to the NBA after a 19-year run with Florida from 1996-2015 that included two national titles, and he had been rumored to be a potential candidate for North Carolina's recent vacancy.
The Tar Heels, though, hired another option with NBA ties in former Nuggets coach Mike Malone.
Donovan wants to continue coaching, per ESPN, and his exit marks the third NBA opening, with the Pelicans and rival Bucks also in the market
