Billy Donovan Steps Down as Bulls Coach

Billy Donovan has stepped down as Chicago Bulls coach, ending a six-season run with the franchise. (nba.com) The Bulls announced the move on April 21, saying Donovan, 60, was “stepping aside” after discussions with ownership about the organization’s future. The decision came one week after Chicago finished the 2025-26 season at 31-51. (nba.com, upi.com) Donovan went 226-256 in Chicago from 2020-21 through 2025-26. The Bulls reached the playoffs once under him, losing in the first round in 2022, and missed the postseason in each of the last four years. (nba.com, espn.com) The exit leaves Chicago looking for a new coach after another losing season and another year outside the playoff bracket. The Bulls went 39-43 in 2024-25, lost in the Play-In Tournament, then fell back to 31 wins in 2025-26. (nba.com, upi.com) Donovan arrived in September 2020 after five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago hired him to replace Jim Boylen and gave him the job before the shortened 2020-21 season. (nba.com, espn.com) Before the NBA, Donovan built his reputation at Florida, where he won national championships in 2006 and 2007 and reached four Final Fours in 19 seasons. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame lists him among its inductees, and Basketball-Reference says he was inducted as a coach in 2025. (hoophall.com, basketball-reference.com) In his statement, Donovan said he chose to step away “to allow the search process to unfold” after extensive talks with ownership. The Bulls now move into the offseason with a coaching vacancy and another reset ahead. (upi.com, nba.com)