Tom Thibodeau, the headstrong coach of the Chicago Bulls for the past five years, was laid off by the team on Thursday, May 28. The news was formally announced by the Bulls' general manager Gar Forman.
In a statement released on NBA's official website, Forman stated, "When Tom was hired in 2010, he was right for our team and system at that time, and over the last five years we have had some success with Tom as our head coach."
"But as we looked ahead and evaluated how we as a team and an organization could continue to grow and improve, we believed a change in approach was needed," he continued.
Chairman Jerry Reindsorf spoke of an ideal team's culture, one which is not reflected currently by the Bulls under Thibodeau's leadership. He described this culture as one where "Teams that consistently perform at the highest levels are able to come together and be unified across the organization-staff, players, coaches, management and ownership."
The coach, in response to the decision made by the management, thanked those whom he has worked with over the years. He seems to have positively accepted this change and looks forward to what lies ahead for him in his career.
"We are proud of our many accomplishments, fought through adversity, and tried to give our fans the full commitment to excellence," he also said.
While he was let go by the Bulls, other teams are allegedly looking into hiring the coach. Among those rumored to be interested to take Thibodeau in are the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets.
During his time with the Chicago Bulls, the coach has successfully brought the team to the playoffs each season. He was also awarded 'Coach of the Year' during his second year, while one of his players, Derrick Rose, was regarded as the MVP of the league in 2011.
