The Chicago Bulls fired Tom Thibodeau on Thursday, and it looks like they may already have his replacement lined up in Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg, according to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports.
“Sources told CBSSports.com that Hoiberg is the leading candidate to replace Thibodeau — and that Chicago’s front office has viewed him that way for months. One source went so far as to suggest a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between Hoiberg and the Bulls is in place, which would explain Pollard already working on replacing him.”
Parrish says that Jamie Pollard, Iowa State’s athletic director, has already had informal discussions with a search firm to find Hoiberg’s replacement.
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as the Hoiberg-Bulls rumor had been gaining serious momentum even before the Bulls fired Thibodeau. Hoiberg has long been on the list of potential NBA head coaches. The Minnesota Timberwolves were reportedly interested in him last year (Hoiberg played for the Timberwolves and worked in their front office), but the courtship never amounted to anything.
Hoiberg’s offense, which emphasizes three-pointers and baskets at the rim, would transition seamlessly into the NBA. Aside from Pau Gasol, the Bulls don’t really have any traditional back-to-the-basket players, but they have plenty who attack the rim at will, from Derrick Rose to Jimmy Butler. As for shooters, the Bulls have Butler and younger players like Doug McDermott), Nikola Mirotic and Tony Snell to fill that role.
More and more, teams are jumping off the head coach carousel and getting the person they think is right for the job, regardless of experience. The Oklahoma City Thunder did it with Billy Donovan, and the Bulls appear to be following suit with Hoiberg.