Chicago Bulls hire Tiago Splitter as head coach, betting on young talent

A rapid ascent

Tiago Splitter, a 41-year-old former center, is set to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bulls, multiple outlets reported Monday, citing sources. A first-round pick by San Antonio in 2007, Splitter played seven NBA seasons, winning a title with the Spurs in 2014. He retired in 2018 after a hip injury and moved into coaching, working as a scout and assistant in Brooklyn and Houston before taking over Paris Basketball in 2024-25. There he guided the club to the French championship and the French Cup. He then joined Portland’s staff as an assistant, but was thrust into the interim head coach role last October when Chauncey Billups was arrested in a federal illegal gambling probe. Billups faces wire fraud and money laundering charges and has pleaded not guilty. Under Splitter, the Trail Blazers went 42-40, finished seventh in the Western Conference, and snapped a four-year postseason drought, before falling in five games to the eventual NBA finalist Spurs.

“They decided on Splitter because of his ability to lead player development, organizational alignment in terms of direction and vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach who has been climbing the ranks since 2018.”

A franchise in upheaval

The Bulls have undergone a significant reset. Billy Donovan resigned after six seasons at the helm, compiling a 226-256 record and just a single playoff appearance. Chicago ended the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 mark, the league’s 28th-ranked defense (121.5 points allowed per game), and missing the postseason for the fourth year in a row. The front office was completely remade: Bryson Graham was hired as executive vice president of basketball operations on May 4, with Stephen Mervis and Acie Law IV joining the staff on May 19. Graham oversaw a lengthy search that winnowed a list of more than ten candidates, focusing on leadership, player development, and alignment with the franchise’s vision.

The road ahead

Splitter’s immediate task is to mold a young roster headlined by Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Anfernee Simons. The Bulls hold two first-round picks in the upcoming draft on June 23: No. 4 and No. 15. The franchise has not tasted a playoff series victory since 2015 and last won a championship in 1998. With Splitter’s blend of NBA experience, European coaching success, and the interim job in Portland, the front office is betting he can accelerate the rebuild. The move adds a notable international face to the NBA sidelines; Splitter will be the first permanent head coach born in Latin America and joins a small group of non-American coaches currently leading teams.