Billy Donovan is out as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, the team announced Tuesday, April 21.
Donovan had an option year on his contract to coach the Bulls next season, but decided to leave the position. Chicago is still in the process of looking for a person to head up its basketball operations.
"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 organization," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
Billy Donovan is stepping away as head coach. pic.twitter.com/Up6S6dd5tL
The 60-year-old Donovan went 226-256 in his tenure in Chicago, and the Bulls missed the postseason in each of the last four years.
"After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, 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. "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. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent."
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)1 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMichael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)1 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMichael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)2 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimLeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)3 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)4 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimStephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)5 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)6 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimEarvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)7 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimLarry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)8 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimBill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)9 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimWilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)10 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimShaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)11 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimTim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)12 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)13 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimAllen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)14 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimOscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)15 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimElgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)16 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJerry West, East Bank High School (WV)17 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJulius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)18 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMoses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)19 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)20 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimCharles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)21 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKarl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)22 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimDavid Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)23 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimIsiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)24 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJohn Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)25 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimPete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)26 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimChris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)27 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMeadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)28 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimDwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)Before coaching the Bulls, Donovan spent five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he compiled a 243-157 record, with the team making the playoffs in each season.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer coached at the University of Florida before stepping up to the NBA, leading the Gators to two national championships.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Billy Donovan steps down as Chicago Bulls coach after six seasons