Who is Tiago Splitter? Meet Chicago Bulls new head coach

After six seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Billy Donovan parted ways with the organization. He was only one of the significant changes because Bryson Graham also took over as the Bulls' new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

Graham took charge of the hiring process for Donovan's replacement. After a comprehensive process, they eventually decided to hire Tiago Splitter, a former NBA champion who just wrapped up his first NBA head-coaching season with the Portland Trail Blazers.

A deep dive into Tiago Splitter, the Chicago Bulls' new head coach

Across the NBA world, people might also be familiar with Splitter due to his playing career. He was a champion in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs as Tim Duncan's primary big man partner in the paint.

He had a productive seven years in the NBA, as he was a reliable big man who could finish well at the rim and defend the paint. Unfortunately, he is also infamous for being on the wrong end of a highlight block by LeBron James in the Finals.

MORE: Bryson Graham is now the man to lead the Bulls into the long-term future

Splitter's coaching journey

After retiring in 2017, he pivoted to coaching, with which he has extensive experience. From 2019 to 2023, Splitter was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets.

He followed that up with a single-season stint with the Houston Rockets, where he was a huge reason why Alperen Sengun developed into an All-Star.

After the 2023-24 season, Splitter made his way to Europe to serve as the head coach of Paris Basketball in the 2024-25 season. It was a productive year for Splitter, garnering more attention as a potential head coach, which is why the Blazers hired him as a new assistant ahead of the 2025-26 season. 

He then had to step up as the interim head coach after Chauncey Billups' controversies. Splitter eventually led them to the NBA Playoffs with a 42-40 record overall, as he coached all but the first game of the season. It was the Blazers' first postseason berth in five years.

Why the Bulls chose Splitter as the new coach

With Splitter's extensive experience as a coach focused on player development, he is a natural choice for the rebuilding Bulls. They want to go from strength to strength, which the Blazers did under his leadership in the 2025-26 season.

His status as a former NBA player and champion also matters because he was part of a successful system under the iconic Gregg Popovich. Now that he has a young core to develop, including the fourth overall pick in the 2026 Draft, Splitter is in a good spot.

With that kind of resume, it is hard to go against Splitter. He had tremendous competition in the race for the Bulls' coach opening, but it seems he was the name that kept standing out for Graham and the Bulls' front office, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.

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