Chicago Fanatics Message Board :: View topic - Collins - Pulls himself out of Bulls job contention

Doug Collins will not be returning for a second coaching stint with the Bulls.

Collins and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mutually agreed during a Friday-afternoon phone conversation that the Bulls' coaching search, now more than seven weeks old, would continue without Collins.

"I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the Tribune. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst.

"This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no.

"Jerry knows me well enough to know the only way I could do this is if I was totally engaged. And I just couldn't do that now."

Collins, who turns 57 in July, said he'd continue his broadcasting career with TNT. He added this Bulls team is the only one for which he'd return to coaching.

"I'm not going to coach another team," Collins said. "I spiritually felt I was led to this opportunity in Chicago. Four or five things happened along the way for me to get to this point. My family was incredibly supportive.

"For many reasons, it didn't come to be. If I was ever going to do it again, I would've done it in Chicago with Pax and Jerry. But I'm not going to go to another city and start all over again and make my family make new friends.

"Kathy (Collins' wife) was so comfortable because we lived there for 10 years. We would've been closer to (children) Chris and Kelly. It was exciting for all of them, too. But it just wasn't meant to be."

Collins first contacted the Bulls on May 23--three days after they won the top pick in the NBA draft lottery--to inform them he had changed his mind about not wanting to coach. Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson flew to San Antonio, where Collins was working the Western Conference finals for TNT, to interview him on Memorial Day.

Collins had one follow-up phone interview, then watched as Reinsdorf and Paxson conducted second interviews with Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey this week.

Sources said Paxson signed off on Collins' hiring. Reinsdorf consistently and publicly has said he never tells his general managers whom to hire but that he can exercise veto power.

Collins refused to comment when asked if Paxson had made it clear he wanted Collins as his coach. But Collins said he understood Reinsdorf's hesitations because the two have become extremely close since Reinsdorf fired Collins in July 1989. Collins had just led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals.

"I understand if Jerry had concerns about firing me again," Collins said. "My whole thing is you can't enter into an agreement with somebody if down the road, you think there's a chance for failure.

"It would've been a lot of fun to coach the Bulls. But I am comfortable with this development. It happened the way it was supposed to happen."

The Bulls now likely will pick from among Person, Casey, Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Rockets assistant Elston Turner.

Flip Saunders, fired by Detroit earlier this week, has sent feelers about the Bulls' job. But it's not believed Paxson has much interest in Saunders.

Author:	Beardown [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:	Collins - Pulls himself out of Bulls job contention
KC Johnson just reported this. Yep. Just like I figured. Reinsdorf wanted outs in the contract if Collins was fired. Didn't want to get stuck with paying him. Reinsdorf knows Collins burns out and would have to fire him. Collins didn't like the contract stipulations. Collins says "no thanks." That's my guess.

Author:	Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:54 pm ]
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KC Johnson wrote: Doug Collins will not be returning for a second coaching stint with the Bulls. Collins and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mutually agreed during a Friday-afternoon phone conversation that the Bulls' coaching search, now more than seven weeks old, would continue without Collins. "I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the Tribune. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst. "This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no. "Jerry knows me well enough to know the only way I could do this is if I was totally engaged. And I just couldn't do that now." Collins, who turns 57 in July, said he'd continue his broadcasting career with TNT. He added this Bulls team is the only one for which he'd return to coaching. "I'm not going to coach another team," Collins said. "I spiritually felt I was led to this opportunity in Chicago. Four or five things happened along the way for me to get to this point. My family was incredibly supportive. "For many reasons, it didn't come to be. If I was ever going to do it again, I would've done it in Chicago with Pax and Jerry. But I'm not going to go to another city and start all over again and make my family make new friends. "Kathy (Collins' wife) was so comfortable because we lived there for 10 years. We would've been closer to (children) Chris and Kelly. It was exciting for all of them, too. But it just wasn't meant to be." Collins first contacted the Bulls on May 23--three days after they won the top pick in the NBA draft lottery--to inform them he had changed his mind about not wanting to coach. Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson flew to San Antonio, where Collins was working the Western Conference finals for TNT, to interview him on Memorial Day. Collins had one follow-up phone interview, then watched as Reinsdorf and Paxson conducted second interviews with Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey this week. Sources said Paxson signed off on Collins' hiring. Reinsdorf consistently and publicly has said he never tells his general managers whom to hire but that he can exercise veto power. Collins refused to comment when asked if Paxson had made it clear he wanted Collins as his coach. But Collins said he understood Reinsdorf's hesitations because the two have become extremely close since Reinsdorf fired Collins in July 1989. Collins had just led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals. "I understand if Jerry had concerns about firing me again," Collins said. "My whole thing is you can't enter into an agreement with somebody if down the road, you think there's a chance for failure. "It would've been a lot of fun to coach the Bulls. But I am comfortable with this development. It happened the way it was supposed to happen." The Bulls now likely will pick from among Person, Casey, Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Rockets assistant Elston Turner. Flip Saunders, fired by Detroit earlier this week, has sent feelers about the Bulls' job. But it's not believed Paxson has much interest in Saunders.

Author:	Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:56 pm ]
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I am less than inspired by this list. Quote: The Bulls now likely will pick from among Person, Casey, Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Rockets assistant Elston Turner. I was happy about Collins. I guess I would go with Corbin.

Author:	Crystal Lake Hoffy [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:59 pm ]
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Quote: "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst." How nice of Doug.

Author:	Krazy Ivan [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:59 pm ]
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The Hornacek era is at hand...

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Author:	Tall Midget [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:01 pm ]
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What'd Dick Versace doing? Stan Albeck? Dick Motta? So we can't get Collins. Let's bring back another Bulls washout from the past.

Author:	Brick [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:01 pm ]
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This is pathetic. I didn't get worked up about missing on D'Antoni, but to miss on another coach is showing incompetence.

Author:	RFDC [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:03 pm ]
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As far as I am concerned Hornacek or Corbin are the 2 best options. I do not like Casey.

Author:	SHARK [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:26 pm ]
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This is absolutely embarrassing now, Bulls fans. With late word that I found out first at FOXSports.com last night concerning ex-Timberwolves' Head Coach Dwane Casey & Kings' Assistant & former NBA sharpshooter Chuck Person both getting second interviews with GM John Paxson, something didn't seem right with all the speculation concerning Doug Collins. The Trib, Sun-Times and ESPN.com all reported that it was a "done deal" with Collins when it really wasn't. Something really stinks if you're Paxson interviewing all these guys, with & without experience, and your boss, Jerry Reinsdorf, thumbing his nose at whoever he thinks is best suited for this undisciplined team. If I could offer a suggestion, while he lacks experience himself as a head coach, Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek deserves a long, hard look.

Author:	schmitty1121 [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:33 pm ]
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If I was Paxson I would quit. Jerry has cost him his 2 top choices, one by being cheap and the other because they're to close. Jerry is going to go with some cheap ass assistant, and then the players will run his ass out of town also.

Author:	SHARK [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:47 pm ]
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The Bulls' likely hiring of a cheap, no-name assistant as the next head coach is what I've felt all along. Reinsdorf is paying Skiles a $4 million buyout, even though Scott is now 90 miles north trying to revive the just as sorry Milwaukee Bucks. As for Dwane Casey, he won 33 games in the 2005-06 season with Minnesota, as many wins as Skiles & Jim Boylan won here last season in Chicago. Yet he had Kevin Garnett playing up there at the Target Center... Go figure!

Author:	Psycory [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:05 pm ]
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Tall Midget wrote: What'd Dick Versace doing? Stan Albeck? Dick Motta? So we can't get Collins. Let's bring back another Bulls washout from the past. Well if things keep going as they are in L.A., Tim Floyd may be looking for a job...

Author:	My Coach Vinny [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:15 pm ]
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I saw Norm Van Lier outside of his building on Madison leaning against a parking meter last night. Looked like he was waiting for someone. He had orange-ish camouflage pattern-like hawaiian shirt and a matching ball cap on. He even sent a resume to Pax from what I recall.

Author:	Hawkeye Vince [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:43 pm ]
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This is just a joke. Jerry - you can't have it both ways to say this is John;s hire and then be negotiating directly with the leading candidate. I understand it's your team, but damnit what is Paxson there for, then? I can foresee Paxson leaving to ND if they do call. I'd hate my boss if he did this.

Author:	SHARK [ Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:33 pm ]
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I think it's wishful thinking about Norm Van Lier. While Norm would want 48 minutes from his team, and preaches that on Comcast SportsNet's "Bulls PreGame Live" show during basketball season, I'm not so sure how today's NBA players would react to his old school way. There were times last season where Norm wanted to pop Mark Schanowski & Kendall Gill before tipoff, he was that upset. Here's something else to chew on for a moment. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was on the Bulls' radio flagship just a short time ago, ESPN Radio 1000, and he seems to think from a national perspective that Owner/Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf & GM John Paxson are NOT on the same page. He believes that other prospective candidates have been scared away by the indecisiveness between the boss & his General Manager. As for whom Stephen A. suggested would be ideal, he feels ex-Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey got a raw deal and that Minnesota has been terrible ever since.

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Author:	FavreFan [ Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:06 am ]
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Nas wrote: I would submit my resignation papers tomorrow. This is a complete fucking joke. Unless they were waiting on and hire Thibodeau, I completely agree. I have been clear since the start of this that I think he is the best possible candidat. Flip Saunders and Avery Johnson are fucking jokes. Two of the worst head coaches in the NBA last season. If this is not a move simply made t wait and interview/hire Thibeodeau then Pax needs to be fired or resign to the ND job.

Author:	Peoria Matt [ Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:19 am ]
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Nas wrote: I would submit my resignation papers tomorrow. This is a complete fucking joke. Agreed, Nas. "'Doug, you have to give me a few days.' He said, 'I'm hiring somebody I love like a son, and I have to figure whether I really want to do this.''I could never fire you. I care about you too much.' " Translation: Please, Doug. I'm still paying my last coach I fired. Don't make this contract guaranteed. How about a "good buddy" discount for your Ol' Uncle Jerry? I had a strange feeling Reinsdorf would fuck this up.

Author:	Tall Midget [ Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:43 am ]
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Bernstein argued yesterday that part of the reason Collins didn't get hired is that Reinsdorf saw that Bulls fans didn't respond that enthusiastically to the idea. He then went on to say that "one name left out there would resonate with the fans"--Flip Saunders! I'm now convinced that Bernstein is pushing the Saunders angle to torture the CSFMB. There's no way anyone could be this stupid.

Author:	Why is Mac So Angry? [ Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:53 pm ]
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Tall Midget wrote: Bernstein argued yesterday that part of the reason Collins didn't get hired is that Reinsdorf saw that Bulls fans didn't respond that enthusiastically to the idea. He then went on to say that "one name left out there would resonate with the fans"--Flip Saunders! I'm now convinced that Bernstein is pushing the Saunders angle to torture the CSFMB. There's no way anyone could be this stupid. Bernsie has always loved Saunders because he saw him coach in the CBA. And was Bernsie justifying that position from Reinsdorf, if so, WYC.