After what’s seemed like years of waiting, the Bulls announced in a press release today they’ve dismissed Tom Thibodeau as head coach, effective immediately. Thibs was informed of the decision by General Manager Gar Forman in an afternoon meeting. Thibodeau knew it was coming, but has two years, and $9 million left to collect on his contract. That changes if he accepts a coaching job elsewhere (see below).
Sources told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Insider Only) that “All signs point to these being Tom Thibodeau’s last days as Bulls coach with a resolution planned for no later than Friday.”
It looks like they went ahead with their plan today.
“When Tom was hired in 2010, he was right for our team and system at that time, and over the last five years we have had some success with Tom as our head coach,” Forman said in their statement. “But as we looked ahead and evaluated how we as a team and an organization could continue to grow and improve, we believed a change in approach was needed.”
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf included a lengthy statement in the release, which makes it clear the breakdown in communication and trust between management (Gar Forman and Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Paxson) and Thibodeau was the leading cause of the rift and ensuing termination. Here’s what Reinsdorf said (emphasis ours):
“The Chicago Bulls have a history of achieving great success on and off the court. These accomplishments have been possible because of an organizational culture where input from all parts of the organization has been welcomed and valued, there has been a willingness to participate in a free flow of information, and there have been clear and consistent goals. While the head of each department of the organization must be free to make final decisions regarding his department, there must be free and open interdepartmental discussion and consideration of everyone’s ideas and opinions. These internal discussions must not be considered an invasion of turf, and must remain private. Teams that consistently perform at the highest levels are able to come together and be unified across the organization-staff, players, coaches, management and ownership. When everyone is on the same page, trust develops and teams can grow and succeed together. Unfortunately, there has been a departure from this culture. To ensure that the Chicago Bulls can continue to grow and succeed, we have decided that a change in the head coaching position is required. Days like today are difficult, but necessary for us to achieve our goals and fulfill our commitments to our fans. I appreciate the contributions that Tom Thibodeau made to the Bulls organization. I have always respected his love of the game and wish him well in the future.”
According to Johnson’s report last night, and most of the rumors circulating over the last couple of weeks when it became more and more clear Thibodeau’s ouster was coming, former Bulls guard Fred Holberg is presumed to be the leading candidate to replace Thibodeau as head coach.
After taking over as Bulls head coach in the summer of 2010, Thibodeau compiled an overall record of 255-139 (.647) in that time and made the playoffs in all five years he helmed the team. In the playoffs, he was 23-28 (.451), advancing to the Conference Finals in 2011, but never farther than the Conference Semifinals after that first postseason.
The Pelicans, Magic and Nuggets — though the latter is “not an option,” according to CBS Sports’ Ken Berger — are all eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see if Thibodeau will interview for their own head coaching vacancies. If he accepts that job, he’ll void the money he has coming from the Bulls to do nothing over the next two seasons.
(NBA.com)