The Chicago Bulls have identified San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as a primary candidate for their head coaching vacancy following the hire of Bryson Graham as executive vice president on May 4, 2026. The search follows the departure of Billy Donovan in April after six seasons with the franchise.
According to insider K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network, Sweeney has become a prominent name in the league’s coaching market. The Bulls are rebuilding their leadership structure under Graham, who recently joined the front office from the Atlanta Hawks.
“I asked for that list, but I was not given that list, so I’m still working on that. I can’t tell you one name, but one name that is a hot coaching candidate throughout the league for a lot of openings is Sean Sweeney,” said K.C. Johnson, Chicago Bulls insider.
Sweeney joined the Spurs last June as a lead assistant, helping the team achieve a third-place defensive ranking in the NBA. Under his guidance, Victor Wembanyama became the youngest unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in league history.
“I don’t know if San Antonio would let him out of his contract because he was a big hire for them last offseason as a lead assistant there. That’s one name I would keep an eye on, but there’s a lot of information coming,” Johnson noted regarding the potential hiring process.
Sweeney’s extensive resume includes assistant roles with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Dallas Mavericks. He is currently participating in the Western Conference Semifinals where the Spurs are facing the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“One name that is a hot coaching candidate throughout the league…is Sean Sweeney,” stated Johnson during a broadcast for Bulls on CHSN.
Other potential candidates for the Chicago opening include Micah Nori, Chris Quinn, Mike Wilks, and Jarrett Jack. Internal candidate Wes Unseld Jr. is also considered a possibility for promotion as the Bulls continue their search during the 2026 postseason.