The Chicago Bulls have hired Fred Hoiberg to be their new head coach.
Hoiberg replaces Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last week after five years with the team. He has agreed to a five-year contract that is believed to be worth $25 million, according to the New York Daily News. Hoiberg had been rumored as Thibodeau’s replacement for a long time. He played for the Bulls for four years and has a long history with Bulls general manager Gar Forman. He has said that several NBA teams have approached him about their openings in recent years.
'When this opportunity came about, this was something that interested me greatly,'' Hoiberg said. ''One of my life goals is to coach in that league.''
Hoiberg had been the head coach at Iowa State University, where he used to play. He had been coaching there since 2010. While at Iowa State he was 115-56, made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and won back to back Big 12 tournament titles, according to the Associated Press. Hoiberg has also spent four years in the Minnesota Timberwolves front office.
The Bulls are expected to introduce Hoiberg at a press conference on Tuesday. This season the Bulls made the playoffs, but were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.