Source: Thibodeau accepts Bulls' offerEmail Print Comments658 By Roman Modrowski and Nick Friedell
ESPNChicago.com
Although an official announcement will have to wait until after the NBA Finals, Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has accepted an offer to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bulls, a source told ESPNChicago.com on Saturday.
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This development comes after ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Thibodeau had withdrawn his name from consideration for the New Orleans Hornets' coaching job.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers would not confirm the reports before Boston practiced the day before Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
"I hope it's true, but we're not going to comment on it, I can tell you that," Rivers said. "We're focused on the NBA Finals. There's two teams. There's the Lakers and the Celtics, and that's what we're going to keep the focus on.
"But on Tom, he deserves the job. I think he's the best candidate out there. I've said that for three years now. So let's hope it's true."
In addition to getting interest from the Bulls and Hornets, Thibodeau was a strong candidate for the New Jersey Nets' coaching opening, Stein reported. Thibodeau interviewed with the Nets before the Celtics left the East Coast for Los Angeles for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Early in the Bulls' coaching search, conventional wisdom indicated the team was looking at candidates who had prior head coaching experience. Thibodeau's extensive experience as an assistant, however, was enough.
ESPNChicago.com had reported the Bulls were impressed with Thibodeau's basketball knowledge after a recent interview.
Those who worked closely with Thibodeau had high praise for him.
"Tom's a workaholic," Celtics forward Paul Pierce told ESPNChicago.com recently. "I'm always catching him in there working, watching film in his office. He's probably the most prepared coach I've ever seen."
Rivers agreed.
"It's tough to get a picture of him, because he's always in the office," Rivers told ESPNChicago.com.
THE THIBODEAU FILE
Tom Thibodeau doesn't have NBA head-coaching experience, but he has been around the league for years. Check out his credentials. Blog »
"Tom has great focus and [the players] buy in. That's really important. You can sell it, what we want, but we make it a point that, if you don't buy in, you don't play. I think whenever you have a -- [Orlando Magic assistant] Brendan Malone, the same thing here -- the Magic know Brendan, just like [the Celtics] know with Thibs, Stan [Van Gundy] is going to back Brendan 100 percent and I'm going to do the same with Thibs."
Prior to his stint in Boston, Thibodeau served as an assistant in Minnesota, San Antonio, Philadelphia, New York and Houston. Thibodeau will replace Vinny Del Negro, who had an 82-82 record in two seasons with the Bulls.
