Bulls hire Tiago Splitter as new head coach

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly found their next head coach, turning to former NBA player and rising coaching prospect Tiago Splitter to lead the franchise into a new era.

According to ESPN, the Bulls are hiring Splitter as the team’s new head coach. The 41-year-old Brazilian will replace Billy Donovan, who stepped down on April 21 after six seasons with the organization.

Splitter arrives in Chicago after serving as interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2025-26 season. He took over following the departure of Chauncey Billups and guided Portland to a 42-40 record.

Under Splitter’s leadership, the Trail Blazers reached the postseason for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign. Portland’s playoff run ended in the first round with a five-game series loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Before receiving his first NBA head coaching opportunity, Splitter built his coaching résumé through several assistant roles. He worked with the Brooklyn Nets from 2019 to 2023 before joining the Houston Rockets coaching staff for the 2023-24 season.

He also gained international head-coaching experience during the 2024-25 season while leading the French club Paris Basketball.

The Bulls enter the offseason looking to reverse a prolonged stretch of inconsistency. Chicago finished the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 record and failed to secure a playoff berth.

During Donovan’s tenure from 2020 to 2026, the Bulls compiled a 226-256 record.

Splitter is well known to NBA fans from his playing career. Selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft, the center spent seven seasons in the league and appeared in 355 games, including 153 starts.

He averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while playing for the Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers.

His most notable achievement as a player came in 2014, when he helped San Antonio capture an NBA championship.

The Bulls are now hoping Splitter can bring that championship experience and his growing coaching credentials to a franchise seeking a return to playoff contention.