more to come...

Doug Collins to become Bulls head coach

May 29, 2008
BY BRIAN HANLEY Staff Reporter

Doug Collins will become the next Bulls head coach, according to a source.

The source said the deal is expected to be announced "sooner rather than later."

Expect one of the other candidates general manager John Paxson interviewed to be one of Collins' assistants.

Paxson has said Collins has one of the best basketball minds around, and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he loves Collins despite having fired Collins in a controversial move in 1989.

Collins coached the Bulls from 1986-89 and took the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals. He also coached the Detroit Pistons and later coached Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizards.

Collins is an intense, fiery coach, who will remind some of Scott Skiles, who was fired on Christmas Eve.

Recently, Collins said he didn't want to leave his broadcasting job with TNT. Since then, the Bulls landed the No. 1 draft pick.

"I know Doug's got the itch [to coach again]," a league source said. "I think the Bulls' youth intrigues Doug more than the Phoenix [Suns] situation. He's a teacher That's what he likes to do.

"He might have been leery about the veterans on the Suns, including Shaq.

A native of Benton, Ill., Collins starred at Illinois State.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/977280,collins052908.article?rss=true

It would be funny if he rebuilds the team, coaches till they reach the finals, and then let him go for another coach to win the title...AGAIN.

^ Thats mean.

It would be funny if he rebuilds the team, coaches till they reach the finals, and then let him go for another coach to win the title...AGAIN.

^ Thats mean.

If you read that story I posted, that almost sounds like the plan. They are hiring his successor at the same time.

Bulls' Paxson Responds to Collins Reports

Statement from John Paxson Regarding the Chicago Bulls Head Coaching Search:

"I have been in contact with Doug Collins in regard to our head coaching position. Contrary to some reports that are currently out there, we have not reached an agreement. Right now, his commitment is covering the Western Conference Finals for TNT. When that series concludes, we will continue our dialogue. In the meantime, I will continue to talk to other candidates and review our options."

5/29/2008 2:21 PM

Were Bill Fitch and Doug Moe unavailable?

Apparently this will not happen now:


CHICAGO -- Doug Collins isn't coming back to the Chicago Bulls (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=chi) after all, citing a mutual agreement with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf that the team will continue its coaching search without him.
"I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the Chicago Tribune for a story posted on the newspaper's Web site. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst.
"This is absolutely mutual," Collins told the Tribune. "When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no.
"Jerry knows me well enough to know the only way I could do this is if I was totally engaged. And I just couldn't do that now."
Reinsdorf told the Tribune: "As time went on, he came to realize that there are good coaches out there and we will be able to get somebody and that it's more important for us to maintain our friendship. I didn't push him to this. And I'm disappointed because I won't be reunited with Doug. But in my heart, I know he made the right decision."
On May 29, ESPN confirmed reports from Chicago-area media outlets that the Bulls intended to announce that Collins would leave his TV career to take over as the Bulls' head coach. The Bulls denied the reports that day, saying "contrary to some reports that are currently out there, we have not reached an agreement."
Collins, working for TNT on the NBA playoffs that night, said: "I have not been offered. I have not accepted." The Bulls have been without a head coach for seven weeks since firing interim coach Jim Boylan.
Sacramento Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=sac) assistant coach Chuck Person was set to have a second interview with the Chicago Bulls for their vacant head coaching job, The Associated Press reported earlier this week.

Were Bill Fitch and Doug Moe unavailable?
Isn't Doug Moe working for LB in Charlotte?

Isn't Doug Moe working for LB in Charlotte?

Hopefully he's a fan of 'Sheed too.

Hopefully he's a fan of 'Sheed too.

Oh man, sorry if this has been discussed at length elsewhere(have been way to busy with Hollywood to keep up with the NBA forum...more on that later...), and this is totally not the right place for this but just had an epiphany (take that bukster!) of sorts and now I'm real excited about the prospect of taking advantage of LB's need for vets and familiarity....we can totally take advantage of him if we try to dump Sheed or Chauncy....they do have a few nice young pieces over there....

Vinny Del Negro has happened.

NO WAY! LOL at Vinny Of The Black