Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls head coach after 6 seasons - ESPN

Billy Donovan has decided to step down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after six seasons.

The Bulls announced Donovan's decision Tuesday, saying they wanted the longtime coach to remain in Chicago but adding that they respected his choice.

The Bulls made clear that the organization wanted Donovan back after making sweeping changes to the front office, but Donovan held an option in his contract for next season and elected to step down after extensive meetings with team ownership in the past week, sources told 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 statement released by the team. «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.»

Billy Donovan's 226 wins rank fourth most in Bulls history. Donovan led the Bulls to the playoffs just once (in 2021-22 in his second season, a first-round loss) while the other coaches in the top five led the team to the playoffs at least three times.

«We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach — that was never in question,» Bulls owner Jerry 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.»

The Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6 after a