CHICAGO — Billy Donovan has decided to step down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, ending his tenure following extensive meetings with team ownership. Donovan held an option for the next season on his contract and was offered the opportunity to remain with the organization in a new managerial capacity.

"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. 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," Donovan said.

Donovan, 60, plans to continue his coaching career. He compiled a 226–256 record across six years in Chicago, a stretch in which the Bulls missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season in 2025–26. While under contract with the Bulls, he received interest from the New York Knicks last offseason and the University of North Carolina during the 2025–26 season, and had maintained his desire to fulfill his contract commitment.

Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2025. Before joining the Bulls, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020, compiling a 243–157 record and making the playoffs every year.

The coaching decision followed the Bulls' firing of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6, after a six-year run that produced one playoff appearance. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said the organization had wanted Donovan to stay.

"We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach -- that was never in question. 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," Reinsdorf said.

CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf described the coach as a factor in the executive search. "While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new Basketball Operations leadership. Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved," he said. "If I interview someone and they're not sold on Billy, they're not sold on a Hall of Fame coach. If Billy wants to be our coach and someone's not interested in that, then they're probably not the right candidate for us."

The Bulls have begun interviews for their new head of basketball operations and aim to hire the executive just before or just after the mid-May NBA draft combine. The team received permission to interview Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey and San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dave Telep. The Bulls are also expected to speak with Austin Brown, co-head of CAA's basketball division, regarding the vacancy.

"My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent. Thank you Jerry and Michael for giving me this opportunity and more importantly, for the relationship that has been forged. I was so blessed to be able to work with such great owners," Donovan said.