OT: Doug Collins to coach Chicago Bulls?!

by malicedoom on May 29, 2008 11:33 AM CDT

Um... WHAT?

How is this possible?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3417029

The Chicago Bulls' next head coach will reportedly be a familiar face.

Numerous media outlets reported Thursday that the Bulls will hire Doug Collins as their new head coach.

Earlier this month, Collins told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that he had "no interest" in coaching again.

Collins, currently an NBA analyst with TNT, last coached in 2002 with the Washington Wizards. He also coached the Detroit Pistons and the Bulls, compiling a 332-228 record. He has a career 15-23 record in the postseason.

Collins was fired by the Bulls in 1989, despite leading the team to the Eastern Conference finals. He was replaced by Phil Jackson, who went on to coach the team to six NBA titles.

Expected to contend in the Eastern Conference after reaching the second round of the playoffs last season, Chicago plummeted, losing 49 games. Coach Scott Skiles got fired in December, and interim coach Jim Boylan lost his job after the season finale. But suddenly, luck seems to be smiling on the Bulls.

Chicago will pick first overall in the 2008 draft after winning the draft lottery.

Collins also had a solid NBA playing career, averaging 17.9 points in eight seasons after being selected No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1973 draft out of Illinois State. He was selected to four All-Star games.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

One thing you can say for Doug Collins...

he had a pretty sweet Man-Perm going in the late 80’s.

I haz show: http://hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on May 29, 2008 11:49 AM CDT reply actions

reinsdorf

is an idiot!!

It might beeeeee!! It could beeeeeee!! It issssss!! Homerun!! Holyyyyyyy Cow!!!

by cubsluver22 on May 29, 2008 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

They botched up this head coach search...

they have taken so long & missed out on opportunities. I’m not sure that D’Antoni would have necessarily been the answer but Collins is what they came up with? If we are going for a past head coach, do it right and just get Phil Jackson back after the Lakers win the Finals. Ha

"My body is a temple.... a temple of doom." -source unknown

by Basman on May 29, 2008 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

Last time Collins coached us, we fired him and rattled off 6 championships in 9 years….but he still sucks.

by walsh2317 on May 29, 2008 12:26 PM CDT reply actions

Was anyone expecting someone better?

Because I don’t think that was available. We could have gotten Avery Johnson, but he’s shown a nice history of being outcoached in the playoffs. We could have gotten some assistant coach with no experience or track record. Or we could have gotten a college coach to come in and fail just like nearly every other college coach has in the last 20 years.

Doug Collins may or may not be a good coach. But there wasn’t anything exciting out there. The organization has tried to bring him in before (he previously turned down a mentor/assistant job alongside Cartwright, and he had turned down the job before we got the #1 pick). Hopefully it works out well and he can get this team going in the right direction.

by SouthernCub on May 29, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

Terrible

Absolutely terrible. Doug Collins is an ego-maniac who quickly wears out his welcome wherever he lands. My opinion of John Paxson has been in a nosedive for two years. It started with his insistence that Kirk Hinrich is a good basketball player and that the Bulls could win via an “energy” strategy of out-sweating the opponent. Memo to John…it takes God-given talent and athleticism to win today’s NBA game. And it takes hiring somebody other than Scott Skiles and Doug Collins who are two peas in a pod.

At some point Jerry Reinsdorf is going to have to intervene and pull the plug on the Paxson era.

"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."

by MDBNIU on May 29, 2008 2:11 PM CDT reply actions

Wow...

...simply terrible. Way to reach for mediocrity and retreads rather than greatness, Reinsdorf. Ass.

by Chadnudj on May 29, 2008 2:26 PM CDT reply actions

Hire is a joke

It also probably means that Paxson will continue to live in denial and keep Kirk Hinrich. I give it 6 months before Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas commit mutiny and quit on Doug Collins. This is a mega, mega brutal hire. Paxson is out of his mind.

"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."

by MDBNIU on May 29, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

collins

if this is all they could get—why fire skiles? there was a hecka lot more out there than collins. heck even a van gundy would have been better and thats not saying much. i’m interested in seeing if shaw takes the suns job.

It might beeeeee!! It could beeeeeee!! It issssss!! Homerun!! Holyyyyyyy Cow!!!

by cubsluver22 on May 29, 2008 2:41 PM CDT reply actions

Interesting

I don’t have bad memories of the Collins days with the Bulls. I am not sure where the hate is coming from. I worry a little he may not have kept up with the modern NBA, but then again he has been an analyst for most of that time, so he could be fine.

Here is a counter article:

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/15/when-will-doug-collins-coach-again/

He has meant an instand double digit improvement in wins in each of the three previous jobs he has taken. I would expect the same here.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on May 29, 2008 3:11 PM CDT reply actions