Report: Bulls hiring Tiago Splitter as head coach

Field Level Media|published: 06/15/2026, 12:28pm EDT

Apr 14, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Portland Trail Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter against the Phoenix Suns during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls are hiring Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, ESPN reported on Monday.

The 41-year-old Brazilian succeeds Billy Donovan, who stepped down on April 21 after six seasons.

Splitter, a center who played parts of seven seasons in the NBA, led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 42-40 season as the interim coach after Chauncey Billups was arrested in an FBI gambling investigation.

The Trail Blazers reached the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first round.

Splitter previously was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets (2019-23) and Houston Rockets (2023-24). He was the head coach for French club Paris Basketball in 2024-25.

The Bulls finished 31-51 last season and were 226-256 under Donovan from 2020-26.

A first-round draft pick by San Antonio in 2007, Splitter averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 355 career games (153 starts) with the Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. He won a championship with the Spurs in 2014.

--Field Level Media