In Billy Donovan’s six years in charge, Chicago Bulls only reached the playoffs once, losing to Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in 2022. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Billy Donovan stepped down as coach of the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday after the team missed the NBA playoffs for the fifth time in his six seasons in charge.

Donovan, who guided Florida to US college crowns in 2006 and 2007, went 226-256 with the Bulls after arriving in 2020, but had his worst season in Chicago in this past campaign, going 31-51.

“After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organisation, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold,” Donovan said in a statement released by the club.

“I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit,” he added.

Donovan, 60, left Florida in 2015 to become coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which reached the playoffs in each of his five seasons there, losing in the Western Conference finals in 2016 and the first round in each of the next four seasons.

After going 243-157 with the Thunder, he departed in September 2020 after being unable to reach a deal on a contract extension. Two weeks later, Donovan signed with the Bulls.

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Chicago only reached the playoffs once under Donovan, losing to Milwaukee in the first round in 2022.

Earlier this month, the Bulls fired vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six-year stays.

Donovan’s departure gives their eventual replacement a clean slate in hiring a new coach.

“Billy Donovan is one of the finest people and coaches I have had the privilege of knowing and working with,” Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said.

“He brought class and genuine care to this organisation that made a real impact on people. We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach -- that was never in question. But through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new head of basketball operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That’s the kind of person Billy is -- he put the Bulls first. We’re deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organisation,” he added.

The Bulls have not won a playoff series since 2015 and have missed the playoffs in eight of the past nine years, with only one winning campaign.

They last won the NBA crown in 1998, the last of Michael Jordan’s six titles with the Bulls.

Published on Apr 21, 2026