Billy Donovan Steps Down as Head Coach: What's Next for Him and the Chicago Bulls?

Billy Donovan rocked the NBA world on Tuesday, announcing he would step down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls effective immediately. The news ends a six-year stint in the Second City that resulted in just a single playoff appearance in 2022.

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bulls wanted Donovan to return next season but Donovan declined the opportunity and exercised an option in his contract that ended his tenure in Chicago. Donovan stepped away from the Bulls with presumably no intention of retiring from coaching, so the discussion about his potential next destination began immediately after his statement of resignation surfaced.

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

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 21, 2026

“My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent,” Donovan’s statement read. “Thank you Jerry and Michael for giving me this opportunity and more importantly, for the relationship that has been forged. I was so blessed to be able to work with such great owners. I owe so much to my players and staff over the last six years.

“You all have worked side by side with me, day in and day out to drive the Bulls organization forward. And a huge thank you to Bulls fans, your energy, passion and unwavering support provided a home-court advantage that is generally unmatched around the league.”

Back To School?

Donovan, who won two national championships at Florida and was the 2020 NBCA co-coach of the year with the Bulls, will surely be a sought-after candidate for a list of high profile positions in either the collegiate or professional ranks. Early speculation has already suggested he could emerge as a potential name for the currently occupied coaching positions at Kentucky and/or Kansas, considering the temperature of Mark Pope’s seat and the questions surrounding Bill Self’s long-term future.

In Gainesville, where Donovan first rose to prominence, a situation may unfold that could also open a path to regain his former position as head coach of the Gators. Current Florida coach Todd Golden is the Golden State Warriors preferred head coaching candidate should Steve Kerr step away from the organization. As of Tuesday afternoon, it seems like all but a certainty that Kerr will be stepping away and that the Warriors will at least begin the process of attempting to hire Golden.

If Steve Kerr does not return, the Warriors will pursue Florida head coach Todd Golden, sources tell @KevinOConnor.

The Lacob family “has a relationship” with Golden, who coached at the University of San Francisco for three seasons before leaving for Gainesville. pic.twitter.com/f1rVulktjK

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 21, 2026

Of course, if the Florida job opens up and Donovan is still on the market, there’s an obvious storybook ending that could take place for the 60-year-old. Golden has done a fantastic job so far in securing his roster for next season, which is going to be laden with returning players from a team that earned a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament. If Donovan can convince those players to stay, he’d be inheriting an instant national title contender at a school he’s already led to the top of the mountain twice.

Potential Replacements in Chicago

On the other hand, what’s next for Chicago? We could start with Kerr as a candidate, especially considering the fact that he has three Bulls championship rings. There’s no question that Kerr is among the most impactful coaches in NBA history after his overhauling of Golden State’s system changed the sport of basketball forever, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see him step away entirely or return to TV considering the health issues he’s had to deal with over the years.

Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell is also a name likely to be considered thanks to his enormous contributions to Joe Mazzulla’s world-class staff. Miami’s Chris Quinn is another highly qualified assistant that’s long overdue for a head coaching role and is a name that could certainly come up in the search. Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins is also a name to watch out for and could provide instant stability after making three playoff appearances in five full seasons as the Grizzlies head coach. And for what it’s worth, Memphis was 44-29 at the time they fired him last season and have fully imploded as a franchise since.

The most interesting outcome for the Bulls isn’t so unlike what could happen with Donovan and Florida. It just so happens that one of the most prominent names on the list of NBA coaching free agents is none other than Chicago’s old friend Tom Thibodeau, who led the Bulls to the playoffs in all five seasons of his tenure from 2010-2015. In his 12 full seasons as an NBA coach, Thibodeau has only missed the playoffs twice. It might not be the sexiest hire for the Bulls, but it might be the best choice if they want to get out of their current cycle of mediocrity.

Better Days Ahead

While Donovan’s tenure in Chicago ended without any of the accomplishments either side hoped to garner during his time in the city, the silver lining is that both sides should also be able to find an improved situation as a result of the split. It’s clear Donovan saw it that way, whether it was genuinely because he wants the Bulls to start a new era or if he has his eyes set on a new destination.

For the Bulls, even though they wanted Donovan to stick around, it should still be seen as a positive day for the franchise. Not because Donovan is a bad coach, he clearly isn’t, but because this relationship was actively putting both he and the franchise in a position they are both better than.

Win-Win.

Bulls win by being forced to actually do the right thing and hire a new Front Office that can pick their own coach.

Billy wins by no longer having to be associated with the trash fire that is the Bulls ownership. https://t.co/BfU9gEazXR

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 21, 2026

Does Billy Donovan end up back in the college game, at Florida or one of the more traditional blue bloods, or does he stay in the NBA and potentially position himself for a sought after job like the Warriors? Will Steve Kerr return to the sidelines with his former team once his departure from Golden State is official, or will he cash in on the new era of NBA broadcasting and make his return to color commentary? Will the Bulls hire one of the league’s promising assistant coaches, or will they go with an old familiar in Tom Thibodeau?

One thing is for certain, both the NCAA and NBA coaching carousel just got a bit more interesting.