NBA Daily: Looking for the Next Head Coach in Chicago

The Chicago Bulls have found themselves stuck in the mud over the last three seasons; a 110-136 record can attest to that. However, with Lauri Markkanen ready to take the next step coupled with a solid offseason, 2018-19 was supposed to be a good season for the Bulls.

It hasn’t gone exactly as planned.

After a 5-19 start to forget, Chicago relieved Head Coach Fred Hoiberg of his duties. In his stead, the front office promoted former Assistant Coach Jim Boylen, who the front office has expressed confidence in going forward. But, with the Bulls being where they are in their rebuild, he is by no means a lock to take over permanently.

So, who could be some of the candidates the Bulls consider down the line?

Jim Boylen

The Bulls, as they should, have high hopes for Boylen in his newfound role. Almost anything would be better than the product Chicago has put forth this season.

But let’s be honest; Hoiberg wasn’t the only reason this roster stumbled out of the gate. Injuries to and lackluster performances from the roster have also played a significant role. If Boylen can’t turn things around and win some games now, he may not have a shot at anything long-term.

That being said, if he can get this team to show almost any signs of life he may be the best bet for the job to start next season. It, at the very least, would give him a leg up on the field.

Ettore Messina

Ettore Messina has been connected to nearly every head coaching search over the past year, and for good reason: he has some serious experience under his belt.

A current assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Messina also has an extensive resume as a head coach in Europe. Not only is he a four-time champion and two-time Coach of the Year in the EuroLeague, but Messina has won championships in Italy and Russia as well.

The winning pedigree, combined with the knowledge gained from his time with Popovich, should be as enticing to the Bulls as it has been for other teams. If Boylen can’t find a foothold, Messina could be the front-runner for the job come the offseason.

Monty Williams

Another former Spur, now Philadelphia 76er, Monty Williams is another candidate with a solid resume behind him.

Before his time as an assistant on the 76ers coaching staff, Williams spent time as the Vice President of Basketball of Operations in San Antonio. Before that, Williams was the head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans and has spent time on the pine for the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder as well.

Dating back to his time in New Orleans, Williams has been known as a players’ coach, which may be the perfect personality fit for this young Chicago roster. And, with so much talent already in-house — Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine — there may not be a better place for Williams to land if he truly wants to rejoin the head coaching ranks.

Stan Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy has made some very questionable moves as an executive. But, as a head coach, the resume is hard to ignore.

During his four-year stint with the Detroit Pistons, Van Gundy managed the team to their only postseason appearance in the last decade. He coached his teams to multiple 50-win seasons during his time with the Miami HEAT and Orlando Magic and should bring a nice change of pace to what Hoiberg had done during his time with the team.

With Gar Forman firmly entrenched as the Bulls’ General Manager, Van Gundy’s spotty history as an executive shouldn’t be an issue as well.

Jay Larrañaga

Jay Larrañaga has been with the Boston Celtics for a long time; he predates head coach Brad Stevens as a member of the coaching staff. To stick around for so long, he must be doing something right, right?

In all seriousness, Larranaga has a solid basketball resume and coaching background; not only is Larrañaga a former player and G-League (then D-League) coach but his father, Jim Larrañaga, is the current head coach at the University of Miami and is a coaching veteran of more than four decades. And, as much as people heap praise Stevens for the job he has done in Boston, Larrañaga has also played a vital role in the development of Celtics’ young core.

The Bulls have a long season ahead of them, but the search for a head coach is one they shouldn’t take lightly. While they have some young talent on the rise, Chicago will need a steady hand to guide them and return the franchise to its winning ways — if they just settle or choose the wrong person for the job, the team could easily find themselves back at square one with an even longer rebuild ahead of them.