When you think about the guys pacing the sidelines at the United Center, your mind probably goes straight to Phil Jackson and the rings. It makes sense. Six championships will do that to a legacy. But honestly, the history of Chicago Bulls head coaches is a lot weirder and more volatile than just the "Zen Master" era. It’s a story of expansion-team miracles, defensive masterminds who burned out, and a few "what were they thinking?" hires that still haunt the local sports talk radio airwaves.
Most people assume the Bulls were nothing before Jordan. Not true. The very first guy to hold the clipboard, Johnny Kerr, actually pulled off something that’s nearly impossible today. In the 1966-67 season, he led the Bulls—a brand-new expansion team—straight to the playoffs. They finished 33-48, which sounds mediocre, but for a team built from scratch? It was legendary. Kerr won Coach of the Year for it. It’s funny how we forget that the franchise started on a high note before the dark ages of the late '70s set in.
The Architect Before the Zen: Doug Collins
Before Phil Jackson was the guy, Doug Collins was the one tasked with turning Michael Jordan from a scoring machine into a winner. People give Collins a hard time because he never won the big one, but you’ve gotta realize where the team was. When he arrived in 1986, the Bulls were coming off a pathetic 30-52 season.
Collins was intense. Maybe too intense.
He improved the win total by 10 games in each of his first two seasons. By 1989, he had them in the Eastern Conference Finals. He even famously moved Jordan to point guard for a stretch where MJ recorded 10 triple-doubles in 11 games. Think about that. But the "Bad Boy" Pistons were a literal wall that Collins couldn't break through. Jerry Krause fired him in the summer of 1989, a move that felt cold at the time but paved the way for the triangle offense.
Phil Jackson and the Art of Managing Egos
We have to talk about Phil. You can’t discuss Chicago Bulls head coaches without looking at the guy who went 545-193 in the regular season. That’s a winning percentage of .738, which is just stupidly high.
What made Jackson different wasn't just the X's and O's—it was the psychology. He had to manage Michael Jordan’s competitive fire, Scottie Pippen’s contract frustrations, and eventually, Dennis Rodman’s... everything. Most coaches would have snapped. Instead, Jackson used Native American philosophy and Zen Buddhism to keep the room calm.
His 1995-96 season is still the gold standard. 72 wins. 10 losses. A championship.
But the end was messy. The "Last Dance" wasn't just a documentary title; it was the literal reality of a front office that wanted him gone despite the winning. When Jackson left in 1998, the floor didn't just fall out; the whole building collapsed.
The Post-Jordan Identity Crisis
After Phil left, the Bulls went through a revolving door of coaches that felt like a fever dream:
- Tim Floyd: He was brought in from Iowa State to lead a rebuild that was essentially doomed from day one. He won 49 games... total... in over three seasons.
- Bill Cartwright: A legend as a player, but as a coach, he struggled to find footing with a roster that was basically a collection of high school projects.
- Scott Skiles: This is where things got gritty again. Skiles brought back the "Baby Bulls" in the mid-2000s. He was a hard-nosed guy who demanded defense. He led them to 47 wins in 2005, their first playoff appearance since Jordan left.
The Tom Thibodeau Defensive Masterclass
If Phil Jackson was the Zen Master, Tom Thibodeau was the Drill Sergeant. When he was hired in 2010, the energy in Chicago changed overnight. He didn't just want to win; he wanted to hold the opponent to zero points if possible.
In his first year, the Bulls went 62-20. Thibs won Coach of the Year, and Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in history. The defense was terrifying. They ranked 1st in the NBA in Defensive Rating that year ($100.3$).
The problem with Thibs—and anyone who follows the NBA knows this—is the "burnout" factor. He played his starters heavy, heavy minutes. Critics argue that the physical toll contributed to the injuries that eventually derailed that era. By 2015, the relationship between Thibs and the front office (Gar Forman and John Paxson) had turned toxic. He was fired after a 50-win season, which tells you everything you need to know about the drama behind the scenes.
Recent Struggles and the Billy Donovan Era
After Thibs, things got... weird. Fred Hoiberg was supposed to bring "Hoiball"—a fast-paced, modern offensive system. But the roster he was given featured Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, and Jimmy Butler. Three guys who didn't exactly scream "pace and space." It was a disaster.
Then came Jim Boylen, who famously had players clocking in with a literal punch card. The "player revolt" was real, and the Bulls felt like a laughingstock for a couple of years.
Enter Billy Donovan in 2020.
Donovan brought some much-needed adult supervision to the room. He’s had a rocky road, though. As of early 2026, he’s still trying to find that consistent winning formula with a core of Zach LaVine and a post-prime roster. He signed a multi-year extension in 2025, which shows the front office actually trusts his stability, despite a career record with the Bulls that hovers right around .500 (200-205 through five seasons).
Why Coaching the Bulls is a Different Beast
Chicago isn't like coaching in Orlando or Charlotte. The shadow of the six trophies in the lobby is long. Every coach is compared to Phil Jackson. Every star is compared to Michael Jordan.
You also have to deal with a fan base that is incredibly knowledgeable but has zero patience for "rebuilds" that last more than two seasons. The tension between the coaching staff and the front office has also been a recurring theme for decades—from the Krause vs. Phil days to the GarPax vs. Thibs era.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you're tracking the future of the Bulls, keep an eye on how Donovan manages the current shift toward younger talent. The organization has historically been hesitant to go into a full "tank," which often leaves the head coach stuck in the "middle"—not good enough for a title, not bad enough for a top-three pick.
To really understand the impact of a Bulls coach, don't just look at the wins. Look at the Defensive Rating. In Chicago, if you don't defend, the fans will let you hear it.
Next Steps for Bulls Fans:
- Check the injury reports: Coaching impact in Chicago has historically been tied to player availability (Rose, Lonzo Ball).
- Monitor the defensive stats: The Bulls historically win when they are top 10 in points allowed.
- Watch the rotations: See if Donovan starts leaning into the youth movement or sticks with the veterans as the trade deadline approaches.
The history of Chicago Bulls head coaches is a cycle of extreme highs and frustrating lows. From the expansion success of Johnny Kerr to the defensive grit of Thibs, it's a job that requires a thick skin and an even thicker playbook.