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.

It deserves its own thread IMO.

You are more than correct, I was just kidding.

This is a move to develop our young guys the right way. I like it. This coaching hire increases the odds that Tyrus will remain a bull imo.

This is a move to develop our young guys the right way. I like it. This coaching hire increases the odds that Tyrus will remain a bull imo.

Thats cool, I like Doug Collins but I would have proffered Corbin. Maybe he will be the assistant?

One of the many younger coaches Paxson also has interviewed is expected to land on Collins' staff.

I'm really surprised most of you are happy about this. I feel like we just settled. Like, it's a good hiring, but not the best. I thought Pax was gonna really explore all his options, and then all of a sudden he hires Collins out of left field? What's that about? He hasn't coached in 6 years, and he wasn't that good as the Wizards coach. He went 37-45 in both his seasons before getting fired.

Now, I really hope we hire a high level assistant that can come in and learn the ropes to eventually be the head coach of the future. Tyrone Corbin (who was my favorite for the job), Brian Shaw, or someone like that would be great.

Overall, I think the message I get from this hire is that we're admitting we're not going to be the top of the East next year, we're going to do the smart thing, realize we have the youngest roster in the league and it's just going to get younger when we draft (hopefully Rose), and if we're careful we can turn this roster in to an absolute league dominating machine in a few years.

I guess it won't be announced until TNT's playoff coverage ends.

"I have spoken with Bulls management recently about their head coaching vacancy and will resume conversations after the conclusion of my work for TNT in the Western Conference finals," Collins said in a statement from Los Angeles, where he was to work Game 5 of the Spurs-Lakers series. "There is no agreement in place."

....
"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," Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement posted on the team's Web site.

"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."

Shaun Livingston will be cleared for full workouts sometime this month.

that was the worst injury i have ever seen, next to randy foye getting his eye poked out of his socket (sp?). if the clippers dont resign him i wouldnt mind the bulls looking at him.
refresher just for fun.http://youtube.com/watch?v=2F2B796QeFk
cant find the one of foye...

Paxson still interviewing Bulls coaching candidates

By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter
8:23 AM CDT, June 3, 2008

The Bulls' coaching search will reach seven weeks on Thursday. That isn't stopping general manager John Paxson from conducting more interviews.

According to someone familiar with the process, Paxson has scheduled a second interview with at least one candidate. The person said other second interviews could follow.

With Lakers assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw involved with the NBA Finals, the likely candidates are Kings assistant Chuck Person, Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey.

Ultimately, Doug Collins is still expected to land the job. But Paxson stressed at the outset of his search, which began on April 17 when he fired Jim Boylan, that he'd have no timetable to find a replacement.

That injury is sickening.

The thing that has me thinking was when Bill Cartwright was the coach, Paxson asked him if he'd like Collins as his assistant.

Maybe Collins would be the assistant to the young coach they are going to hire? Am I that crazy?

Doug Collins still wants to be the Bulls head coach, but the ball remains squarely in the Bulls' court.

WSCR-AM (670) reported first and the Sun-Times confirmed that Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wants to take as much time as he felt necessary to make sure he would be hiring Collins for the right reasons and not allow his close relationship with Collins to cloud this important decision.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that Sacramento assistant coach Chuck Person flew to Chicago today for a second interview. The interview was supposed to happen late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Collins is said to understand Reinsdorf taking time to give the final OK. Collins, who at times has described Reinsdorf as being a father-figure, has made it clear to the Bulls and others that the only team he wants to coach is the Bulls. He has rebuffed overtures by the Phoenix Suns to become their next head coach.

Collins is intrigued with the youth of the Bulls, the league’s youngest team, and with the Bulls owning the top pick in the June 26 draft.

The Suns appear to be close to hiring Terry Porter, though Porter’s name could surface in connection with the Detroit Pistons after head coach Flip Saunders was fired there Tuesday.

The Bulls are not believed to be interested in Saunders, though things could change if Reinsdorf rejects Collins at this late stage. Sources close to the situation still expect Reinsdorf to ultimately hire Collins.

Bulls general manager John Paxson is said to be spending his time this week — while waiting for Reinsdorf's decision on Collins — trying to determine which player to take with the top overall pick in the draft. Paxson has been watching extensive video of both Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. The Bulls expect to have both players in for two-day visits the week of June 16.

yeah you are right...no wonder i couldnt find it. i think they got drafted the same year and kind of look alike.
here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04WXA7mM0Eo

hate to be blunt, but the Bulls front office is more undecided than a bunch of stoned slackers. (Pun!) From Jeff Goodman at FOX Sports, via Blog-a-Bull: "Doug Collins may no longer be the front-runner for the Chicago Bulls job. According to a source close to the situation, former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey's interview with Bulls general manager John Paxson on Wednesday went extremely well, and he has emerged as a legitimate candidate." Collins, Chuck Person, Corbin, Turner ... this search is incredible. I can't wait for my interview with Pax next week. I'm going to wear a power tie!

casey new fronrunner?

but I'd rather have Collins.

Hmm, I don't know much about Casey (other than he had a terrible record with the T-Wolves), but I'd rather have Collins.

With second thoughts, Doug Collins backs out of Bulls coaching search
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune reporter

June 6, 2008, 3:26 PM CDT

Doug Collins will not be returning for a second coaching stint with the Bulls.

Collins and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mutually agreed during a Friday-afternoon phone conversation that the Bulls' coaching search, now more than seven weeks old, would continue without Collins.

"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 Tribune. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst.

"This is absolutely mutual. 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."

Collins, who turns 57 in July, said he'd continue his broadcasting career with TNT. He added this Bulls team is the only one for which he'd return to coaching.

"I'm not going to coach another team," Collins said. "I spiritually felt I was led to this opportunity in Chicago. Four or five things happened along the way for me to get to this point. My family was incredibly supportive.

"For many reasons, it didn't come to be. If I was ever going to do it again, I would've done it in Chicago with Pax and Jerry. But I'm not going to go to another city and start all over again and make my family make new friends.

"Kathy (Collins' wife) was so comfortable because we lived there for 10 years. We would've been closer to (children) Chris and Kelly. It was exciting for all of them, too. But it just wasn't meant to be."

Collins first contacted the Bulls on May 23--three days after they won the top pick in the NBA draft lottery--to inform them he had changed his mind about not wanting to coach. Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson flew to San Antonio, where Collins was working the Western Conference finals for TNT, to interview him on Memorial Day.

Collins had one follow-up phone interview, then watched as Reinsdorf and Paxson conducted second interviews with Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey this week.

Sources said Paxson signed off on Collins' hiring. Reinsdorf consistently and publicly has said he never tells his general managers whom to hire but that he can exercise veto power.

Collins refused to comment when asked if Paxson had made it clear he wanted Collins as his coach. But Collins said he understood Reinsdorf's hesitations because the two have become extremely close since Reinsdorf fired Collins in July 1989. Collins had just led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals.

"I understand if Jerry had concerns about firing me again," Collins said. "My whole thing is you can't enter into an agreement with somebody if down the road, you think there's a chance for failure.

"It would've been a lot of fun to coach the Bulls. But I am comfortable with this development. It happened the way it was supposed to happen."

The Bulls now likely will pick from among Person, Casey, Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Rockets assistant Elston Turner.

Flip Saunders, fired by Detroit earlier this week, has sent feelers about the Bulls' job. But it's not believed Paxson has much interest in Saunders.

kcjohnson@tribune.com

Copyright © 2008, ChicagoSports.com

Is there a trend going on? D'Antoni decided to go elsewhere after his meeting with Reinsdorf and Collins decided he didn't want the job after meeting with Reinsdorf... Hmmmmm

At this point its making the organization look like a complete joke because they've had all this time to review and go over coaches you'd think they'd have some idea of what they want. My choices now boil down to..

1) Tyrone Corbin

2) Duane Casey

3) Brian Shaw

Is there a trend going on? D'Antoni decided to go elsewhere after his meeting with Reinsdorf and Collins decided he didn't want the job after meeting with Reinsdorf... Hmmmmm

At this point its making the organization look like a complete joke because they've had all this time to review and go over coaches you'd think they'd have some idea of what they want. My choices now boil down to..

1) Tyrone Corbin

2) Duane Casey

3) Brian Shaw