Chicago Bulls tied head coach Donovan to extended contract ahead of season

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan agreed a contract extension before the 2022-23 season began last month, the team’s public relations staff have confirmed.

Donovan signed a four-year deal when he took charge of the Bulls in September 2020, and led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 last season.

The Bulls posted a 46-36 record in 2021-22, making it their first winning season since 2015-16, while they have won three of their last four games to improve to 9-11 following an inconsistent start to the new campaign.

Donovan’s original contact with the six-time NBA champions was set to expire in 2024, but reports suggest the 57-year-old’s new deal will run for several more seasons.

The Bulls led the Eastern Conference for much of last campaign and made the postseason despite guard Lonzo Ball suffering a serious knee injury – which has kept him out since January.

Donovan coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for five years before making the move to Chicago, leading the team to the Western Conference playoffs in each of his five seasons at the helm.