Next coach update - Tom Thibodeau

by chgobr on Apr 2, 2008 8:31 AM CDT

As the crescendo of rumors builds we hear Tom Thibodeau's name again. Notice how Doc Rivers does not deny Thibodeau is being considered for the Bulls' job. This is from The Boston Globe

Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau has been rumored as a candidate for the Bulls' coaching job. "I don't get into that," said Rivers. "It's the middle of the season. I'm not commenting or talking about that. I want [all my assistants] to get [head] jobs. And they all deserve them. But that's all I'm going to say on that."

Blog-a-Bull was the first to float Thibodeau's name on Saturday March 8th, 2008. The following is copied from that diary.

Tom Thibodeau has been an NBA coach for nearly twenty years. For many of those years, he worked under Jeff Van Gundy, who has called him a strong prospect to be a head coach one day soon. When Boston's Doc Rivers looked for a new assistant this summer, Thibodeau is said to have been at the top of the list of coaches who could help Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce succeed together. His move from Houston to Boston was something of a homecoming for Thibodeau, too, who is from nearby New Britain, Connecticut, and once was an assitant coach at Harvard, and at Massacusetts' Salem State, where he both graduated and coached.

Thibodeau has been praised for everything from his tutelage of Yao Ming to making the Celtics a much-improved defensive team.

Thibodeau's background written when he was Jeff Van Gundy's Assistant in Houston.

Thibodeau entered the NBA in 1989 as an assistant coach with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves under the late Bill Musselman. After two seasons with the Timberwolves, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics in 1991 as an advance scout. The following year, Thibodeau moved to San Antonio, where he worked with Jerry Tarkanian and John Lucas as a Spurs assistant coach for two seasons. He left San Antonio to become an assistant coach under Lucas with the Philadelphia 76ers. Thibodeau's stay in Philadelphia lasted two seasons, at which point he joined the Knicks. With the Knicks, Thibodeau worked with Van Gundy for five years and Don Chaney for two seasons.

In 14 NBA seasons, Thibodeau has helped his team finish in the NBA's Top Ten in team defense 11 times.

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Comments

Has he ever been a head coach

anywhere?

Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 2, 2008 9:00 AM CDT 0 recs

Bullshooter - you defined the key issue

Can he make the transition to head coach? Does he have the personality to make this leap? I do not know. He has a great track record of improving defenses - maybe the NBA's best, which I think we desperately need. I believe he has been considered by the Bulls in the past, as an assistant, so there is a connection. I have the theory that Hughes can be transformed into a defensive stopper. If someone can convince him he can be a great defensive player he could help the Bulls. He is quick, athletic, can make steals and score on the fast break. I wonder if Thibodeau could do this?

Bullshooter - you got right to the critical concern about Thibodeau - does he have the personality and temperament to make the big leap from assistant to head coach. I do not know the answer yes or no.

by chgobr on Apr 2, 2008 9:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

Sorry -the short answer is no he has never been

head coach.

by chgobr on Apr 2, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Jim Boylan's been a head coach

the standard has been obliterated :)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 2, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

More to the point

the question is not "Has he been a head coach?" but "Is he a leader?"

Being a head coach suggests you may be a leader, but being an assistant doesn't mean you are not one.

This team, like many young teams and like many teams without a dominant talent, needs leadership from the coaching position.

Noah is a hussle machine, and Matt Duhon is our best guard.

by preverbal on Apr 2, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm sure you can find posts suggesting Thibodeau

going back to at least Dec 24th, and probably earlier. I wouldn't make much of Doc Rivers's quote either. Even if the Bulls are interested in Thibodeau, I strongly doubt they would have made any contact with him yet. Taking into consideration they still have an interim in place who is auditioning (albeit poorly) for the job and that the season isn't even finished yet, it would be in poor taste to do so. As talented and young this roster is, you're going to see just about any former head coach or hot assistant named as a possible candidate until the day Paxson names Boylan's replacement.

by snley on Apr 2, 2008 9:21 AM CDT 0 recs

Thibodeau is going to be mentioned everywhere

The guy is has a track record of improving defenses, and this year is just a cherry on top for him. His name is going to be dropped in Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte, or any other potentially vacant head coaching spots in the offseason.

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 2, 2008 11:11 AM CDT 0 recs

I like

I can't speak to exactly the guy's ability as a head coach, his desirability, how he'll work on an offense, etc., but this is the sort of guy I feel we should be open to. Veteran in a system, been around a while, clearly has talent at his job, but hasn't broken through to the head coaching slot yet.

talkbulls.com

by balta1701 on Apr 2, 2008 12:04 PM CDT 0 recs

I feel like we need

The one coach that has rings or at least some kinda of respectable credentials.

From Tim Floyd to Bill Cartwright to Scott Skiles to Boylan . . .

PLEASE JUST HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING!

by Option27 on Apr 2, 2008 12:40 PM CDT 0 recs

But on the other hand,

Phil Jackson hadn't done anything when he became head coach in '89-'90, Rudy T hadn't done anything when he took over as head coach in '92-93 (and sucked when he tried to coach the Lakers), and Popovich hadn't done anything when he became head coach in '96-'97.

There's dynamic coach out there somewhere who is right for this job. So it just gets back to (1) who is he, and (2) how can the Bulls get him?

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Apr 2, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up 0 recs