The Chicago Bulls' search for a new head coach appears to be nearing its conclusion, with a decision potentially coming as early as Monday. The team has narrowed its list of candidates to four finalists: Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. This final group suggests the Bulls are considering a blend of experienced assistants and a coach with recent head coaching experience, albeit with mixed results.

Billy Donovan, who stepped down in April after six seasons, finished his Bulls tenure with a 226-256 record, making the playoffs just once in 2022 and securing a single winning season (46-36) during the 2021-22 campaign. His teams also participated in the play-in tournament three times (2023, 2024, 2025). The Bulls' next coach will inherit a roster that has consistently hovered around the play-in picture but has lacked the consistent top-tier performance to truly contend. The team's road record under Donovan was 106-135.

The candidacies of Nori and Splitter are particularly intriguing. Nori has been a lead assistant for the Timberwolves since 2021, a period during which Minnesota has developed into a Western Conference contender. He even took over head coaching duties during the 2024 playoffs after Chris Finch's injury. Splitter, meanwhile, stepped in as interim head coach for the Trail Blazers during the 2025-26 season after Chauncey Billups' legal troubles, guiding Portland to a 42-39 record and a playoff berth, their first since 2021. His success in an unexpected interim role, leading the Blazers to a No. 7 seed and a play-in victory over Phoenix, certainly bolsters his case.

Ryan Schmidt brings a diverse coaching background, having served as an assistant with the Hawks for the past two seasons and previously as head coach of Atlanta's G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, where he guided them to a strong defensive season. He also has international head coaching experience, leading the London Lions to three domestic titles and earning BBL Coach of the Year honors in 2023. The inclusion of Wes Unseld Jr., who spent the last season as an assistant on Donovan's staff, offers continuity and familiarity with the current roster. Unseld Jr. previously served as head coach of the Washington Wizards from 2021-2024, accumulating a 77-130 record.

The Bulls are clearly at a crossroads. The departure of Billy Donovan and the ongoing search for a new head coach signal a potential shift in direction for the franchise. The front office's choice will reveal their strategic priorities: whether they lean towards a proven tactician like Nori, a rising star with recent head coaching success like Splitter, a developmental expert like Schmidt, or a familiar face in Unseld Jr. The decision is imminent, and the chosen candidate will face the immediate challenge of reshaping a team that has been stuck in neutral for too long, aiming to build a sustainable winning culture in Chicago.