During his pregame media availability Wednesday night, Donovan didn\u2019t explicitly deny any interest from college programs. He voiced respect for Davis \u201cas a man\u201d and praised North Carolina as an \u201cincredible program\u201d but did not express any interest in or intention of taking over the Tar Heels.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s been too much\u2019: Billy Donovan shouldering a series of family tragedies amid Chicago Bulls turmoil<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cMy main focus is just these guys and this new team and trying to get those guys better,\u201d said Donovan, who two years ago fended off similar speculation about his interest in the open position at Kentucky. \u201cI understand there\u2019s stuff that\u2019s out there. People speculate things. I understand it. I\u2019ll try to answer the best I can. But for me, I\u2019m just trying to concentrate on this group.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t an outright denial. Donovan reiterated a series of platitudes that haven\u2019t changed during his time with the Bulls. He enjoys working with Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and President\/CEO Michael Reinsdorf, values his relationship with executive vice president of basketball operations Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas and believes in the Bulls\u2019 ability to build a winning program.<\/p>\n Still, this latest wave of rumors touches a nerve as the Bulls near the end of their sixth season under Donovan. Internally, the team is beginning to prepare for the prospect that he might not return in the fall.<\/p>\n If the head coach position opens in Chicago, it would be Donovan\u2019s decision. The front office and ownership remain committed to Donovan, who has maintained the unwavering confidence of his employers despite his overall record with the Bulls slipping below .500 this season. The multiyear contract extension<\/a> he signed last summer reflects this long-term trust from the top.<\/p>\n But Donovan, who will turn 61 in May, is not quiet about his frustration with the Bulls\u2019 underperformance over the last four years. They could be eliminated from postseason contention by the end of this four-game trip. After three years of failing to advance to the playoffs through the play-in tournament, Donovan is keenly aware of the precipice upon which the team is teetering.<\/p>\n At this type of turning point, there are only two choices: Get out of a bad situation or double down with a commitment to make the team better.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pivoting right now,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cA lot of it\u2019s going to be me sitting down with ownership, with Arturas, just to find out: OK, what\u2019s the next step? How are we all looking at going through this? What do we need to do to continue to improve and to get better?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing, clearly, with the moves that were made at the trade deadline was: How do we get out of the middle? And if we\u2019re taking a step back, what do we have to do to take a step forward where we\u2019re actually building something? We may have to go through a play-in again, but how are we going to get into the playoffs?\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CTC-L-bulls-hornets042.jpg\")
Bulls coach Billy Donovan sits on the bench in the first half against the Hornets on Feb. 24, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n