Collins `too tough' on Bulls - Krause feud also seen as reason for dismissal
Chicago Sun-Times - July 8, 1989
Author: Lacy J. Banks ; Barry Cronin
Doug Collins said Bulls management told him he was fired as coach because he was too hard on his players, had lost their respect and tried to undermine general manager Jerry Krause, sources close to Collins said Friday.
A Bulls player who asked not to be identified told the Chicago Sun-Times that Collins said Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Krause told him he had had been too tough on the players, especially the younger ones, and too emotional during games.
"They also said he had lost the respect of the players, which is not true," the player said.
Collins was fired Thursday after three seasons as coach.
"When you get down to it, based on what Collins told me, he was fired for a lot of bullfeathers reasons," the player said. "It was garbage, their so-called reasons for firing him.
"And, anyway, the bottom line in this league ought to be winning basketball games. We're not here to have a good time and we don't have to like the coach."
Under Collins, the Bulls won three fewer regular season games (47) this season than last, but upset Cleveland and New York in the playoffs and advanced to the NBA's Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the 1974-75 season.
A former member of Bulls management said Collins was dissatisfied with Krause's performance in player personnel, particularly the drafting of No. 1 picks Brad Sellers and Will Perdue, and coveted Krause's job. At times, the source said, Collins went over Krause's head and took basketball matters directly to Reinsdorf, a practice Krause resented.
"Collins wanted a situation where he could have control over player personnel matters along with coaching," the source said. "In other words, he wanted to be coach and general manager."
John Langel, Collins' Philadelphia-based lawyer, said Collins' relationship with Krause began disintegrating six months after Collins was hired in May, 1986.
"His relationship with Krause deteriorated after six months," Langel said. "And once that relationship deteriorates, (any manager) can find reasons to be displeased with someone."
Krause's drafting of Sellers and Perdue further alienated Collins, who did not hold the two in the same esteem as did Krause.
Meanwhile, this year's No. 1 draft pick, 6-11 forward Stacey King of Oklahoma - about whom Collins and Krause had no apparent disagreement - said he was "devastated" at Collins' demise.
"I was devastated because I was looking forward to working with Coach Collins," King said. "But my job is still to come in and play the best ball I can regardless of who the coach is."
As speculation about Collins' ouster continued, the Bulls persisted in terming their motives as "philosophical differences." There was no further explanation from Reinsdorf, Krause or any other member of the Bulls organization Friday.
Collins also maintained an uncharacteristically low profile. He did not schedule a news conference, and relied on vague generalities when cornered by reporters.
"We just felt that it (Collins' departure) was in the interests of both parties," Collins said. "People are going to try to look at it and make something more of it than it really is, but it's not."
Sources said Collins had been advised by other NBA coaches and general managers not to speak out on the matter for fear of alienating other owners.
Langel said Collins has not received any inquiries from other NBA teams. He said the Bulls will honor the final year of Collins' contract, thought to be worth $350,000.
A former television analyst with CBS, Collins is said to have a standing offer to return to the network. Published reports indicated Collins also has received an offer from the Turner Broadcasting System to be an NBA analyst.