Bulls part ways with Billy Donovan: Why veteran head coach is stepping away from Chicago after six seasons

The Chicago Bulls will be looking for a new head coach this offseason.

Billy Donovan is parting ways with the Bulls, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday, with the veteran coach making the decision to leave after six seasons.

Donovan, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, is expected to continue pursuing coaching as a two-time college national champion.

Here's what to know about Donovan's exit from Chicago.

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Why is Billy Donovan leaving the Bulls?

After his time in college, including back-to-back titles at Florida, Donovan has been coaching in the NBA since 2015. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20, then was hired by the Bulls in 2020. Now, he's exiting the franchise after six seasons, only one of which resulted in a playoff appearance.

Donovan made the decision to leave the Bulls this offseason despite the team wanting him to return, per Charania. The coach had an option in his contract for the 2026-27 season and "elected to step down after extensive meetings with team ownership in the last week." Part of his decision was wanting the Bulls to fully reset this offseason, providing "the ability for the organization to undergo its front office search and allow their new top basketball executive to make the next coaching hire," according to Charania.

Earlier in April, Chicago parted ways with vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. Following those decisions, Donovan reportedly met with Bulls ownership, where he was offered the chance to stay if he wanted, per ESPN.

Instead, Donovan is electing to move on from an unsuccessful run in Chicago that included competitive teams, but just one playoff appearance in 2021-22. The Bulls have missed the playoffs in each of the four seasons since.

Donovan also released a statement through the Bulls on his exit, saying he believed it was "in the best interest of the Bulls."

Billy Donovan is stepping away as head coach. pic.twitter.com/Up6S6dd5tL

According to Charania, Donovan received coaching interest from the Knicks last offseason and from UNC earlier this offseason before the Tar Heels hired Michael Malone. Donovan does plan to continue coaching, per Charania.

While the Bulls now have a vacancy for one of the more high-profile franchises in the NBA, Donovan becomes one of the leading candidates for the open jobs elsewhere, which currently includes Milwaukee and New Orleans.