UPDATED 5/30/2015 6:30pm ET
The Chicago Bulls fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Chicago Tribune is reporting that Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg (profiled below) is expected be named as his replacement as early as next week before the NBA Finals. Stay tuned to Chat Sports for more on this breaking story as additional information is made available.
Fred Hoiberg, Iowa State head basketball coach
Hoiberg played for the Bulls from 1999-2003 and has had a lot of success at Iowa State, turning a losing program into the two-time defending Big 12 tournament champions. He's the perfect young coach to build your franchise through and around, and the Bulls already appear to have hitched their wagon to him barring something unforeseen.
If not, here's some other options to consider...
John Calipari, Kentucky head basketball coach
There are rumors that Calipari wants to move to the NBA for the right job, and the Bulls have enough star power to persuade him if they want to. Plus, the chance to team up with Derrick Rose, who played for Calipari at Memphis, would be extremely intriguing.
Mark Jackson, former Golden State Warriors head coach
Jackson spent this season as a broadcaster after serving as head coach of the Warriors from 2011-2014, guiding them from 23 wins to 51 wins in just three seasons. He was fired due to clashes between him and front office, but there’s no doubt about his success on the sidelines.
Adrian Griffin, Chicago Bulls assistant coach
Griffin has been on Thibodeau's staff in Chicago since 2010, and his relationship with the current players on Chicago's roster would make a coaching transition seamless. Memphis has had a lot of success in a similar situation when they promoted Dave Joerger, a long-time assistant under Lionel Hollins, to head coach after they let Hollins go. The Bulls would prefer a bigger name, but Griffin is a solid backup option.
Scott Brooks, former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach
Brooks was fired by the Thunder after they failed to make the postseason, but his resume is nearly unparalleled. He made the playoffs in five of his seven seasons in OKC, and won Coach of the Year in 2010. Chicago is intrigued by his success and postseason experience, but his questionable offensive play calling drop him to the bottom of the list for the Bulls.
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