Billy Donovan Resigns as Chicago Bulls Head Coach After Six Seasons

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has resigned after six seasons with the team, opting to step aside rather than work with a new front office, the organization announced Tuesday.

The decision comes after the Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley near the end of the 2025-26 NBA season. President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf had expressed his desire for Donovan to remain in his role, stating that anyone seeking to hire a new coach was “probably not the right candidate for us.”

However, following discussions with ownership, Donovan and the Bulls mutually agreed that allowing the new basketball operations leadership to shape the organization would be the best approach for all parties involved.

“While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new basketball operations leadership,” Reinsdorf said in a team statement. “Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved.”

Donovan, who turned 60 this year, emphasized that his decision was made after “a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization.” He added that he believes it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build the staff as they see fit.

The 60-year-old coach has consistently maintained his passion for coaching throughout his tenure in Chicago. Donovan was hired by the Bulls in September 2020, shortly after Karnisovas and Eversley assumed their front office roles.

During his six seasons with the Bulls, Donovan guided the team through periods of transition, including the aftermath of the Zach LaVine-era roster construction and efforts to develop young talent such as Coby White and Patrick Williams.

The Bulls have not yet announced a timeline for hiring a new head coach or new basketball operations leadership. The organization will now focus on identifying candidates to fill both roles as it looks to reshape its front office and coaching staff heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.

As the Bulls commence this transitional phase, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the franchise charts its next course in the competitive Eastern Conference landscape.

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