Bulls Coach Billy Donovan May Retire at Season’s End
It seems likely that Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan might announce his retirement following this season. Reports indicate he is “increasingly likely” to step down, as noted in the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.
At 60 years old, Donovan probably isn’t finished with coaching altogether. He may just take a year off to figure out his next steps, especially after a tough season marked by personal losses—he lost his father and stepmother just weeks apart. That, paired with the Bulls’ struggles, likely weighs heavily on him.
Over his six seasons with the Bulls, Donovan has only led the team to the playoffs once, which was in 2021-22, and they lost in the first round. That season was also the only one in which the team won more than 40 games under his leadership.
The situation doesn’t seem to be improving, either. Although Donovan signed a multi-year extension in July 2025, general manager Arturas Karnisovas hasn’t surrounded him with a strong roster. If Donovan leaves, Karnisovas could find himself under scrutiny without a coach to point fingers at.
Currently, the Bulls rank 12th in the Eastern Conference, boasting a record of 29 wins and 42 losses. They appear far behind teams like the Nets, Wizards, and Pacers in the race for the best draft position.
During his time in Chicago, Donovan has worked with solid players like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Tre Jones. Yet, while these players have talent, none are truly elite game-changers in a competitive Eastern Conference.
The team hasn’t had a draft pick higher than 11th in the past five years, making it tough to land a rookie who could make a real impact. This only adds to the possibility of Donovan departing.
Before joining the NBA, Donovan led the University of Florida to back-to-back national championships. His professional record stands at 467-401 over 11 seasons, including a Coach of the Year award during his 2019-20 season in Oklahoma City, where he also led the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
