Former OKC Thunder coach Billy Donovan named new Chicago Bulls coach
Former Thunder coach Billy Donovan has been hired as the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls, the Bulls announced Tuesday.
Donovan and the Thunder mutually agreed to part ways earlier this month. The Thunder couldn't promise Donovan what the roster will look like as the franchise enters a rebuilding process either next season or the season after.
While an unpredictable future awaits in Oklahoma City, Donovan will inherit a Chicago squad that is nearing the completion of its rebuild.
The Bulls roster features 25-year-old guard Zach LaVine, 23-year-old forward Lauri Markkanen, 21-year-old center Wendell Carter Jr. and 20-year-old point guard Coby White.
Carter and White were top-10 picks in the last two NBA drafts, and their development over the next few seasons will determine if the Bulls become realistic contenders in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls also own the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft.
"We are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to the Chicago Bulls," executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. "The success that he has sustained over the course of his coaching career puts him on a different level. We feel his ability to help his players reach their potential, both individually and collectively, will mesh well with our roster. Whether as a player or as a coach, he has won everywhere his career has taken him, and we hope that will continue here in Chicago."
The Bulls fired former coach Jim Boylen after a 22-43 season. Chicago has missed the playoffs four of the last five seasons.
Donovan, 55, went 243-157 in five seasons as Thunder coach. He led the Thunder to the playoffs every year, with one Western Conference Finals appearance and four first-round exits.
The Thunder is still looking for its next coach. There are also head coaching vacancies in Houston, Indiana, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
![Coach Billy Donovan walks on the court during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/large960_blur-bbbb50c48142305feca6759bed54836d.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. San Antonio won 114-106. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/sq150-0d061f42a3c544232ec7ff080e1eba3c.jpg)
![Oklahoma City's Billy Donovan reacts during NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/sq150-342e8cd6bd372f6e46e4aa3532353587.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Oklahoma City won 127-119. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/sq150-66a5561686ef538eabb700df7a19f4d2.jpg)
![Coach Billy Donovan walks on the court during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] Photo - Coach Billy Donovan walks on the court during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-bbbb50c48142305feca6759bed54836d.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. San Antonio won 114-106. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. San Antonio won 114-106. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-0d061f42a3c544232ec7ff080e1eba3c.jpg)
![Oklahoma City's Billy Donovan reacts during NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City's Billy Donovan reacts during NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-342e8cd6bd372f6e46e4aa3532353587.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with the team during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Oklahoma State lost 76-64. Oklahoma City lost 115-108. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with the team during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Oklahoma State lost 76-64. Oklahoma City lost 115-108. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-30b38e05ccbe0b62f7a3f89cd09ea5ca.jpg)
![Oklahoma City's Steven Adams talks with coach Billy Donovan during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams talks with coach Billy Donovan during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a020e567461675dcf956ca29e2441214.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan speaks with Nerlens Noel, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Oklahoma City won 115-104. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan speaks with Nerlens Noel, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul during a timeout in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Oklahoma City won 115-104. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-f0ff58f5ab04c799d81b62287376ff90.jpg)
![Oklahoma City's Chris Paul (3) talks with coach Billy Donovan during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Oklahoma City won 115-104. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City's Chris Paul (3) talks with coach Billy Donovan during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Oklahoma City won 115-104. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-03074bf588e01371e177e950ae03e741.jpg)
![Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Oklahoma City won 127-119. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]
Photo - Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan talks with Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Oklahoma City won 127-119. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]](http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-66a5561686ef538eabb700df7a19f4d2.jpg)



















Joe Mussatto joined The Oklahoman in August 2018 to cover OU football, men’s basketball and softball. He previously covered University of Kentucky football and basketball for SEC Country. Mussatto is from Oklahoma City and lives in Norman. Read more ›