Doug Collins backs out of coaching sweepstakes Options

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http://www.suntimes.com/sports/977280,collins052908.article

Doug Collins to become Bulls head coach

May 29, 2008
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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."


Full Court Press biog: Collins is an interesting choice

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.