Billy Donovan has officially resigned as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, concluding his six-year leadership of the franchise.
Donovan's departure comes after the Bulls failed to secure a playoff spot this season, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference. Despite the team's desire to retain him, Donovan chose to step aside to allow a new coaching staff to take the reins during a pivotal rebuilding phase.
"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 stated. "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."
The 66-year-old coach, who previously led the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder, joined Chicago in 2020. His tenure included a single playoff appearance in the 2021-22 season, where the Bulls were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Over the next three seasons, the team participated in the play-in tournament but could not advance further, culminating in this year's complete postseason absence.
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf expressed both disappointment and gratitude regarding Donovan's decision. "We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach—that was never in question," Reinsdorf said. "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 is the kind of person Billy is—he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organisation."
Donovan's resignation follows recent front-office changes, including the departures of vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley in early April. With Donovan's contract including an option for the upcoming season, his voluntary exit signals a significant shift as the Bulls look to restructure both their roster and leadership ahead of next season.