Category: Chicago Bulls Blog

The Chicago Bulls today named Michael Reinsdorf President and Chief Operating Officer.  In the newly created position, Michael will oversee all business operations for the team and report to Jerry Reinsdorf, who will remain in his position as Chairman of the Board.  General Manager Gar Forman and all of Basketball Operations will continue to report to Jerry Reinsdorf.

“Naming Michael President and COO reflects a natural progression of his growing role in the Bulls business organization, and publicly recognizes his contributions to the team,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.  “I am proud of his accomplishments with the team, and in his own sports ventures, and believe his knowledge and experience will only strengthen what is an already solid management team.”

Michael has been involved in NBA league matters on behalf of the Bulls since 2001 and has served as an NBA Alternate Governor for the last three years.  He is a founding partner for the International Facilities Group, a consulting company specializing in the development of sports and entertainment facilities across the country.  He also serves as Chairman of the Harrisburg Senators (AA, Washington Nationals), where he oversaw $40 million in ballpark renovations and watched the team break several single-day and season-long attendance records in 2010.

Michael is a former owner of the Stockton Thunder, one of the premier franchises in the ECHL professional hockey league.  During his five years of ownership, he saw the Thunder lead the league in attendance four of the last five seasons, while the Thunder made four straight appearances in the Kelly Cup championships.

“The Bulls winning tradition on and off the court is a part of my DNA,” Michael Reinsdorf said.  “I know how much the team means to Chicago, to the NBA, and to fans all over the world.  I am looking forward to being a more active, daily participant.”

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Michael lives in Glencoe with his wife and three children, and is a member of the Children’s Memorial Foundation Board of Directors.

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Ron Adams, Andy Greer, Rick Brunson and Adrian Griffin have been hired as assistant coaches on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff.  In addition, Randy Brown has been named Special Assistant to the General Manager and Pete Myers has been named a Scout.  In accordance with club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

Adams, 63, begins his second stint with the Bulls after spending the last one-and-a-half seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Prior to his stint with the Thunder, Adams spent six seasons with the Bulls as an assistant coach (2003-08) and special assignments scout (2008).  While an assistant, Adams helped guide the Bulls to three consecutive playoff appearances (2004-07).  Adams also held assistant coaching stints with the Milwaukee Bucks (1998-03), San Antonio Spurs (1992-94) and the Philadelphia 76ers (1994-96).   He also served as a player personnel-scout for the Portland Trail Blazers (1996-98).  Prior to his work in the NBA, Adams coached at the collegiate level.  He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Fresno Pacific University in 1969.   He was promoted to head coach in 1972, a position he held for three years.  Adams was also an assistant coach at U.S. International, University of Cal-Santa Barbara, Fresno State University and University of Nevada-Las Vegas.  He was head coach at Fresno State during a second tour of duty from 1986-90.

Greer, 48, has held three different assistant coaching positions in the NBA, most recently with the Memphis Grizzlies (2007-09), as a member of Marc Iavaroni’s staff.  Prior to his time with the Grizzlies, Greer spent four seasons with the Houston Rockets (2003-07) under Jeff Van Gundy and two seasons with the New York Knicks (2001-03) under head coach Don Chaney.  In addition to his NBA experience, Greer coached at the collegiate level for nearly two decades.  Prior to joining the Knicks, he spent four years at Northern Illinois University, where he logged three-and-a-half seasons as an assistant coach and a half-season as the team’s interim head coach.  Greer received his first coaching job as an assistant coach at Genesee Community College in 1983.

Griffin, 36, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach/player development with the Milwaukee Bucks.  He enjoyed a nine-year NBA career that included stops in Boston (1999-01), Dallas (2001-03, 2005-06), Houston (2003-04), Chicago (2004-05, 2006-08) and Seattle (2007-08).  Undrafted out of Seton Hall, Griffin played one season in Italy and three seasons in the CBA and was named league MVP and Finals MVP while playing with CBA champion Connecticut Pride in 1998-99.  Following that season, he moved on to the NBA where he started 47 of the 72 games that he appeared in as a rookie with the Celtics.  The Wichita, Kan. native advanced to the postseason in five of his nine seasons in the NBA.

Brunson, 38, a former Bull, returns to Chicago as he makes his transition to the sidelines of the NBA.  In 2009-10, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Hartford.  Prior to his year in Hartford, he spent two seasons at the University of Virginia, where he was the Director of Basketball Operations.  A veteran of nine seasons in the NBA, Brunson played for seven different teams, including two stints with the Bulls (2002-03, 2003-04).  A native of Salem, Mass., the 38-year old former point guard played collegiately at Temple University under Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney.

Brown, 42, served as the Director of Player Development for the Bulls during the 2009-10 campaign.  Prior to his return to Chicago, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.   A 12-year veteran of the NBA, Brown played for the Sacramento Kings (1991-1995), Chicago Bulls (1995-2000), Boston Celtics (2000-02), and Phoenix Suns (2002-03).  During his five seasons as a member of the Bulls, the Chicago native was a member of three NBA Championship teams (1996, 1997, 1998), including the 1996 squad that won an NBA-record 72 games during the regular season.

Myers, 46, joined the Bulls during the 2000-01 campaign as a scout and will enter his 11th season with the organization.  Last season, he completed his ninth season as an assistant coach.  He served as Bulls interim head coach for two games (at Dallas 11/25/03 and at San Antonio 11/26/03) during the 2003-04 season and one game (at San Antonio 12/26/07) during the 2007-08 season.  During his eight-year NBA career, he played for five teams, including three seasons with the Bulls (1986-87, 1993-95).

The Chicago Bulls announced today plans to unveil a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen that will be displayed permanently in the United Center by the end of the 2010-11 season.

“Not only is Scottie Pippen one of the greatest players to ever wear a Bulls uniform, but he’s among the best players in history of the league to play the game,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “He had a tremendous impact in bringing six world championships to Chicago and there is no better way to pay tribute to him than with a permanent statue that honors his inspirational career.”

The statue will be crafted by Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany of Highland Park, Ill., who also sculpted the famous Michael Jordan statue which was unveiled in January 1994 in conjunction with Jordan’s No. 23 jersey retirement.

“Words really can’t express my feelings,” Pippen said. “It’s an unbelievable honor and truly amazing. It’s something you dream of as a kid growing up, but you can never foresee those childhood fantasies becoming reality. You see statues of individuals who have done great things and made their mark on history, but as a basketball player, you never really think about arriving at this point. It’s an amazing honor for the Chicago Bulls to do this for me.”

Pippen was informed of the news the same week that he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In his first year of eligibility, Pippen was inducted on Aug. 13 as an individual player and as a member of the 1992 Dream Team which won the gold medal in the Barcelona Summer Olympics.

In July, the Bulls named Pippen as an ambassador for the organization. In this capacity, he will attend a majority of Bulls home games and spend time with fans and sponsors. Additionally, Pippen will also participate in a variety of team related events throughout the year, write a monthly column on Bulls.com and make appearances on BullsTV via Bulls.com.

“Being back in Chicago is a great feeling,” said Pippen. “To be among the fans who made my career so special is a fitting next step for me. I’m ready to be a regular at the United Center again as I get back into basketball. I can’t wait to bring my kids around the game. I look forward to working with the younger generation of players, too. Hopefully getting on the court and sharing my knowledge and experience with them will help.”

Pippen was a seven-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1992-97) and a member of six NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls. He was a three-time All-NBA first team honoree and was voted to the NBA All-Defensive first team from 1992-99. Pippen won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team” and returned to help lead the USA to gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also won NBA All-Star MVP honors in 1994.

Darren Rovell of CNBC reports:

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is known to eat a lot of candy. So when the folks at Wrigley found out that he likes to down their Skittles brand, they decided to do something a little special for the hometown boy.

Earlier this month, they brought a custom, tricked-out Skittles vending machine to his house and promised to keep it stocked with Skittles for at least three years.

Rose gets the machine and the Skittles for free; the Skittles brand has a chance of getting more love from Rose; and the Bulls, I guess, hope Rose’s sugar highs peak at the right time.

InsideHoops.com editor says:

I wonder if the machine has 22-inch rims and a booming sound system.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard/forward Keith Bogans.  In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Bogans (6-5, 215) is a seven-year veteran of the NBA, who spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs.  In 79 games with the Spurs, he started 50 contests and averaged 4.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 19.7 mpg, and shot .403 from the field, .357 from downtown and .740 from the charity stripe.

Following a successful collegiate career at the University of Kentucky, the Washington, D.C. native was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.  The 30-year old Bogans has played in 504 regular-season contests (227 starts), and averaged 7.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.4 apg in 22.8 mpg.  He also holds career shooting averages of .394 from the field, .351 from behind the arc and .721 from the line.  In addition to his stint in San Antonio, he has also suited up for Orlando (thrice), Charlotte (twice), Houston and Milwaukee.

Lacy J. Banks of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

When Scottie Pippen is inducted Friday into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he will be presented by Michael Jordan, his teammate for nine of the 12 seasons Pippen played for the Bulls.

Pippen will be inducted with former Utah Jazz star Karl Malone, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss and former WNBA great Cynthia Cooper.

It’s only fitting that Jordan will present Pippen because they were the only players on all six of the Bulls’ championship teams during the 1990s.