Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has extended his contract with the team for multiple years, according to sources who spoke with ESPN on Sunday.
The Bulls and Donovan began talks about the extension at the end of last season and kept discussing it this week while planning for the offseason. This included a short interest from the New York Knicks, as well as preparations for the draft, free agency, and summer league, sources said.
Even though the Bulls faced challenges during Donovan’s time as coach, the organization appreciates his solid leadership throughout all parts of the franchise.
In 2025-26, he will start his sixth season in Chicago and have coached 800 NBA games throughout his career. His record in Chicago stands at 195 wins and 205 losses, while his overall record as an NBA head coach over ten seasons is 438 wins and 362 losses.
Donovan, who has one year left on his contract, led the Bulls to a second consecutive 39-43 record last season. They finished ninth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the play-in tournament for the third year in a row.
The Bulls have made the playoffs only once in the last five years.
Before moving to the NBA, Donovan won two national championships at Florida. He will be honored with an induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during ceremonies on September 5-6 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, as well as at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
He transitioned from college coaching to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015 before joining the Bulls in 2020.
Donovan started his coaching journey as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1989 to 1993.
