List of Chicago Bulls head coaches

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf and Billy Donovan is the current head coach. They play their home games in the United Center. The Bulls first joined the NBA in the 1966–67 season as an expansion team. Coached by Johnny Kerr, the team finished its first season with a 33–48 record, the best record achieved by an expansion team in its first year of play, and secured a playoff berth.[1] The Bulls won their first NBA championship in the 1991 NBA Finals while coached by Phil Jackson.[1] They won five additional NBA championships in the 1990s under Jackson.[1]

There have been 21 head coaches for the Bulls franchise. Phil Jackson is also the franchise's all-time leader in regular season games coached, regular season games won, playoff games coached, and playoff games won.[2] Jackson and Jerry Sloan are the only Bulls coaches to have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach.[2][3] Kerr, Dick Motta, Jackson, and Thibodeau have won NBA Coach of the Year with the team.[4] Ed Badger, Bill Berry, Bill Cartwright, Pete Myers and Jim Boylan have all spent their entire NBA head coaching careers with the Bulls.[5][6][7][8][9] Sloan, Cartwright, and Myers formerly played for the Bulls.[10][11][12]

## Key

[edit]

GC | Games coached

|

W | Wins
L | Losses
Win% | Winning percentage
# | Number of coaches[a]
*  | Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Bulls
†  | Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

## Coaches

[edit]

Note: Statistics are correct through April 13, 2025.

#  | Name  | Term[b] | GC  | W  | L  | Win%  | GC  | W  | L  | Win%  | Achievements  | Reference

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Regular season  | Playoffs
1  | Johnny Kerr | 1966–1968 | 163  | 62  | 101  | .380  | 8  | 1  | 7  | .125  | 1966–67 NBA Coach of the Year | [13]
2  | Dick Motta | 1968–1976 | 656  | 356  | 300  | .543  | 47  | 18  | 29  | .383  | 1970–71 NBA Coach of the Year | [14]
3  | Ed Badger*  | 1976–1978 | 164  | 84  | 80  | .512  | 3  | 1  | 2  | .333  |  | [5]
4  | Larry Costello | 1978–1979 | 56  | 20  | 36  | .357  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [15]
5  | Scotty Robertson | 1979 | 26  | 11  | 15  | .423  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [16]
6  | Jerry Sloan†  | 1979–1982 | 215  | 94  | 121  | .437  | 6  | 2  | 4  | .333  |  | [3]
7  | Phil Johnson | 1982 | 1  | 0  | 1  | .000  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [17]
8  | Rod Thorn | 1982 | 30  | 15  | 15  | .500  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [18]
9  | Paul Westhead | 1982–1983 | 82  | 28  | 54  | .341  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [19]
10  | Kevin Loughery | 1983–1985 | 164  | 65  | 99  | .396  | 4  | 1  | 3  | .250  |  | [20]
11  | Stan Albeck | 1985–1986 | 82  | 30  | 52  | .366  | 3  | 0  | 3  | .000  |  | [21]
12  | Doug Collins | 1986–1989 | 246  | 137  | 109  | .557  | 30  | 13  | 17  | .433  |  | [22]
13  | Phil Jackson | 1989–1998 | 738  | 545  | 193  | .738  | 152  | 111  | 41  | .730  | 1995–96 NBA Coach of the Year
6 championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history[23] | [2]
14  | Tim Floyd | 1998–2001 | 239  | 49  | 190  | .205  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [24]
15  | Bill Berry*  | 2001 | 2  | 0  | 2  | .000  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [6]
16  | Bill Cartwright*  | 2001–2003 | 151  | 51  | 100  | .336  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [7]
17  | Pete Myers*  | 2003 | 2  | 0  | 2  | .000  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [8]
18  | Scott Skiles | 2003–2007 | 337  | 165  | 172  | .490  | 22  | 10  | 12  | .455  |  | [25]
—  | Pete Myers*  | 2007 | 1  | 0  | 1  | .000  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [8]
19  | Jim Boylan | 2007–2008 | 56  | 24  | 32  | .429  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [9]
20  | Vinny Del Negro | 2008–2010 | 164  | 82  | 82  | .500  | 12  | 4  | 8  | .333  |  | [26]
21  | Tom Thibodeau | 2010–2015 | 394  | 255  | 139  | .647  | 51  | 23  | 28  | .451  | 2010–11 NBA Coach of the Year | [27]
22  | Fred Hoiberg*  | 2015–2018 | 270  | 115  | 155  | .426  | 6  | 2  | 4  | .333  |  | [28]
23  | Jim Boylen*  | 2018–2020 | 123  | 39  | 84  | .317  | —  | —  | —  | –  |  | [29]
24  | Billy Donovan | 2020–present  | 400  | 195  | 205  | .488  | 5  | 1  | 4  | .200  |  | [30]

* Doug Collins coached the Bulls from 1986 to 1989.

* Phil Jackson won six championships with the Bulls from 1989–1998.

* Vinny Del Negro coached the Bulls to back to back playoff appearances during his two-year tenure with the team.

* Tom Thibodeau coached the Bulls from 2010 to 2015

* Fred Hoiberg coached the Bulls from 2015 to 2018

## Notes

[edit]

* a A running total of the number of coaches of the Bulls. Thus any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.
* b Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.

## References

[edit]

General

* "Chicago Bulls Coach Register". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.

Specific

1. ^ a b c "Chicago Bulls History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
2. ^ a b c "Phil Jackson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
3. ^ a b "Jerry Sloan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
4. ^ "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
5. ^ a b "Ed Badger Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
6. ^ a b "Bill Berry Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
7. ^ a b "Bill Cartwright Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
8. ^ a b c "Pete Myers Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
9. ^ a b "Jim Boylan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
10. ^ "Jerry Sloan Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
11. ^ "Bill Cartwright Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
12. ^ "Pete Myers Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
13. ^ "Red Kerr Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
14. ^ "Dick Motta Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
15. ^ "Larry Costello Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
16. ^ "Scotty Robertson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
17. ^ "Phil Johnson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
18. ^ "Rod Thorn Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
19. ^ "Paul Westhead Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
20. ^ "Kevin Loughery Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
21. ^ "Stan Albeck Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
22. ^ "Doug Collins Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
23. ^ "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
24. ^ "Tim Floyd Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
25. ^ "Scott Skiles Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
26. ^ "Vinny Del Negro Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
27. ^ "Tom Thibodeau Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
28. ^ "Fred Hoiberg Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
29. ^ "Jim Boylen Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
30. ^ "Billy Donovan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bulls head coaches

* Johnny Kerr (1966–1968)
* Dick Motta (1968–1976)
* Ed Badger (1976–1978)
* Larry Costello (1978–1979)
* Scotty Robertson # (1979)
* Jerry Sloan (1979–1982)
* Phil Johnson # (1982)
* Rod Thorn # (1982)
* Paul Westhead (1982–1983)
* Kevin Loughery (1983–1985)
* Stan Albeck (1985–1986)
* Doug Collins (1986–1989)
* Phil Jackson (1989–1998)
* Tim Floyd (1998–2001)
* Bill Berry # (2001)
* Bill Cartwright (2001–2003)
* Pete Myers # (2003)
* Scott Skiles (2003–2007)
* Pete Myers # (2007)
* Jim Boylan # (2007–2008)
* Vinny Del Negro (2008–2010)
* Tom Thibodeau (2010–2015)
* Fred Hoiberg (2015–2018)
* Jim Boylen (2018–2020)
* Billy Donovan (2020– )

# denotes interim head coach

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bulls

* Founded in 1966
* Based in Chicago, Illinois

Franchise|

* All-time roster
* Draft history
* 1966
* Records
* Head coaches
* Seasons
* Current season

Arenas|

* International Amphitheatre
* Chicago Stadium
* United Center

Personnel|

Owner(s)
Jerry Reinsdorf
President
Michael Reinsdorf
General manager
Marc Eversley
Head coach
Billy Donovan

G League affiliate|

* Windy City Bulls

Retired numbers|

* 4
* 10
* 23
* 33

NBA championships|

* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998

Rivalries|

* Cleveland Cavaliers
* Detroit Pistons
* New York Knicks

Culture and lore|

* Broadcasters
* Air Jordan
* Jumpman
* Tommy Edwards
* Ray Clay
* Benny the Bull
* Disputed Foul Against Scottie Pippen
* "Sirius"
* "I Believe I Can Fly"
* "Sweet Home Chicago"
* Bill Swerski's Superfans
* Jordan Rules
* Triangle offense
* Ashland Green/Pink Line Station
* College Prep
* Tex Winter
* The Spirit (Michael Jordan statue)
* Phantom Buzzer Game
* The Shot
* NBA championship riots
* Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs
* Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs
* Trent Tucker Rule
* The Calhoun Shot
* 72–10
* Michael Jordan's last shot
* Space Jam
* The Last Dance

* v
* t
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NBA head coaches

Eastern
Conference|

| Atlantic|

* Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)
* Jordi Fernández (Brooklyn Nets)
* Tom Thibodeau (New York Knicks)
* Nick Nurse (Philadelphia 76ers)
* Darko Rajaković (Toronto Raptors)

|

Central|

* Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)
* Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
* J. B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
* Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers)
* Doc Rivers (Milwaukee Bucks)

Southeast|

* Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks)
* Charles Lee (Charlotte Hornets)
* Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat)
* Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic)
* Brian Keefe (Washington Wizards)

Western
Conference|

| Northwest|

* David Adelman (Denver Nuggets)
* Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves)
* Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder)
* Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers)
* Will Hardy (Utah Jazz)

|

Pacific|

* Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)
* Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers)
* JJ Redick (Los Angeles Lakers)
* Vacant (Phoenix Suns)
* Doug Christie (Sacramento Kings)

Southwest|

* Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
* Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets)
* Tuomas Iisalo (Memphis Grizzlies)
* Willie Green (New Orleans Pelicans)
* Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

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