OTHER DROP DOWN

AP Source: Bulls plan to introduce Hoiberg as coach

Jun 1, 2015, 8:42 PM

A sign sits in front of Iowa State basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg’s vacant parking space,...

A sign sits in front of Iowa State basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg's vacant parking space, Monday, June 1, 2015, in Ames, Iowa. Hoiberg, who has been the coach at Iowa State for five seasons, has been linked to the opening with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Mayor is moving to Chicago.

The Bulls plan to introduce Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg as their new coach on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Hoiberg had long been rumored as the replacement for Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last week after five seasons in Chicago. The person spoke to the AP on Monday night on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized.

The Bulls said in a release they would make a major announcement on Tuesday.

Hoiberg went 115-56 with the Cyclones, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles. He had open-heart surgery in April.

Before flying to Chicago to speak with the Bulls, Hoiberg acknowledged that several NBA teams had approached him about their vacancies in recent years.

“When this opportunity came about, this was something that interested me greatly,” Hoiberg said. “One of my life goals is to coach in that league.”

Hoiberg said the speculation over his future had been “extremely tough.” Hoiberg grew up in Ames and earned the nickname “The Mayor” while starring for the Cyclones in the 1990s.

Hoiberg joins a team that entered last season with championship aspirations with Derrick Rose back from his latest knee injury and Pau Gasol in the lineup after signing last summer, only to come up short. The Bulls struggled through injuries to win 50 games and got knocked out by the banged-up Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Their season ended with a listless loss in Game 6. By then, long simmering tensions between Thibodeau and the front office had boiled over, and the Bulls let him go May 28 even though he took them to heights they had not reached since the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen championship era.

Hoiberg played four seasons with the Bulls and has a long history with general manager Gar Forman, who was clearly enamored with the successes enjoyed by Iowa State. Hoiberg also spent four years in the Timberwolves’ front office.

Hoiberg had never coached at any level before the Cyclones took a chance on him in 2010. It proved to be one of the smartest risks in school history.

Hoiberg’s fast-paced style was a hit with fans and players, and he leaned heavily on transfers like Royce White and Will Clyburn to quickly bring the Cyclones into national prominence. Iowa State was a trendy Final Four pick in March before a stunning opening-round loss to 14th-seeded UAB.

Hoiberg was poised to coach his most talented team yet next season, with six of his top eight players back and a top-10 ranking all but a certainty. The lure of a reunion with the Bulls proved to be irresistible.

The Bulls are following a familiar route by hiring Hoiberg to take over for Thibodeau, who had a 255-139 record in Chicago. After all, they brought in Tim Floyd from Iowa State and parted with Phil Jackson when they broke up the dynasty.

In Chicago, Floyd’s players included Hoiberg, who also played for Larry Brown and Larry Bird in Indiana as well as Flip Saunders and Kevin McHale with the Timberwolves before his pro career ended abruptly when an aneurysm required open-heart surgery at the age of 33. The 42-year-old Hoiberg had another procedure on April 17 to replace an aortic valve and was expected to need four to six weeks to recover.

Floyd posted a 49-190 record in three-plus seasons with the Bulls. But the circumstances are different this time.

Hoiberg, who played at Iowa State when Forman was an assistant to Floyd, inherits a far more talented team.

He will have a former MVP running the point in Rose. Guard Jimmy Butler is expected to sign a maximum contract as a restricted free agent after making his first All-Star team and winning the Most Improved Player award. Gasol made his fifth All-Star team. Nikola Mirotic emerged as one of the league’s top young players.

But there are some big questions.

It remains to be seen if Rose can consistently play at an elite level the way he did before he suffered season-ending injuries to each knee. Gasol turns 35 in July. Joakim Noah struggled coming off knee surgery.

Noah and Rose were on minutes restrictions this past season, a big point of contention between Thibodeau and management. The idea was the Bulls would be in better shape for the playoffs, but it went against Thibodeau’s belief that good habits are developed through repetition.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Other Drop Down

FILE – In this July 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak...

Arizona Sports

Trump hosts Women’s British Open as Park resumes slam quest

Inbee Park resuming her quest for the career Grand Slam. Teenage prodigy Lydia Ko seeking that elusive first major. Michelle Wie going for victory with an injured left foot.

9 years ago

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, right, motions to Democratic Reps., from left: Peter Barca; ...

Arizona Sports

Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena deal

The Wisconsin state Assembly voted Tuesday to spend $250 million in public funds on a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that both Republicans and Democrats lauded as good for the state and city.

9 years ago

FILE-In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo former PGA golfer Charlie Sifford sits in the dining room in ...

Arizona Sports

Family of late black golf great accused of $1 million theft

The son and ex-daughter-in-law of late black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford were indicted Tuesday on charges they stole more than $1 million from him.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the Quicken Loans Nat...

Arizona Sports

Michelle Wie limps into her next major

that matched her best result of the year -- she developed a bone spur in her left foot that she attributed to the hilly terrain of Lancaster Country Club.

9 years ago

Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, July 2...

Arizona Sports

Golf’s youth movement means 30 is the new 20

a major -- from an otherwise remarkable record. Ko had never missed the cut in her career until that week at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A month later, she was never in contention at the U.S. Women's Open.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods smiles as he answers a question during a news conference prior to the start of the Quic...

Arizona Sports

Tiger Woods running out of chances to salvage season

Tiger Woods knows he's played poorly over the past two years. Now, he's facing the prospect of an early end to his season.

9 years ago

AP Source: Bulls plan to introduce Hoiberg as coach