Bulls head – Chicago’s search for a new head coach could end quickly, with an announcement potentially arriving as soon as Monday. The front-runners include Ryan Schmidt, Micah Nori, Tiago Splitter, and Wes Unseld Jr.
The Chicago Bulls’ head coaching search is no longer drifting in the background. It’s moving toward a deadline, with word that the team’s next hire could be announced as soon as Monday.
Marc Stein, an NBA insider, said the Bulls’ next head coach “could be announced as soon as Monday.” That kind of timing matters in the NBA—because once the calendar turns, every plan gets tighter: staff meetings, roster conversations, and the first push to lock in an identity.
Stein laid out the Bulls’ finalists: Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, and Wes Unseld Jr., an assistant coach on Billy Donovan’s staff in Chicago.
Schmidt has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Hawks. Before that, he was head coach of Atlanta’s G League affiliate, where he posted a 17-17 record.
Nori has been a frequent name in head coaching conversations over recent seasons. He’s been with the Timberwolves since 2021, and prior to that he worked as an assistant with Toronto, Sacramento, Denver, and Detroit.
Splitter took over in Portland after Chauncey Billups’ exit early in the season. During his stretch as interim head coach, he helped put together a strong run, leading the Blazers to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Unseld Jr.’s path is different. His first tenure as a head coach was difficult in Washington, where he was unable to turn things around. Still, the Bulls’ interest suggests Chicago sees room for a reset—if he’s given the reins.
Put together, the list reads like a mix of development experience, rising momentum, and a reset opportunity, all clustered around one looming question: which version of a Bulls rebuild is coming next—and how quickly they can start building it.
Chicago Bulls head coach search NBA rumors Marc Stein Ryan Schmidt Micah Nori Tiago Splitter Wes Unseld Jr. Billy Donovan