Bulls fans are growing impatient as the coaching search drags on—but Chris Quinn’s long list of interviews shouldn’t be a red flag. In fact, it echoes the path of a former Chicago coach who turned patience into powerhouse success.
It has been almost a month and a half since the Chicago Bulls and Billy Donovan decided to part ways, and with no imminent hire on the horizon, Bulls fans find themselves with a familiar feeling: impatience.
When the Orlando Magic announced the hiring of Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, an alarm went through the fanbase, wondering if the franchise was being too complacent in making its next hire. At the time, it was reported that Sweeney and Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn were finalists for the job, and some Bulls fans were hopeful the Bulls would close on Quinn quickly after the news.
But it did not happen.
And while Quinn’s name is still attached to the Chicago Bulls' head coach spot, there is a growing sense that some fans are now apprehensive of making him the new hire for an interesting reason. When Quinn’s name now comes up in conversations, there is discourse in the community wondering why a candidate that is so highly regarded continues to strike out in interviews. For some, this has raised a red flag. If he has been in the mix so often, why hasn’t he broken through?
Apr 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn (left), head coach Erik Spoelstra (center), assistant coach Malik Allen and assistant coach Caron Butler (right) look on from the bench against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter during game four for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesOn the surface, it can be a fair question, but for those following this team for a longer period of time, it may not be as big of a concern as some believe it to be. In fact, some Bulls fans have seen this exact scenario play out before, and the end result was one of the most successful coaches in the Bulls’ history.
Before Tom Thibodeau helped re-establish the Bulls as a contender in the early 2010s, he carried an almost identical label. Around the league, Thibodeau was widely respected as one of the top assistant coaches in the NBA and one who was primed to become a head coach some day. His defensive schemes were known wherever he went and many consider it one of the main reasons the Boston Celtics won their title in 2008.
Yet despite that reputation, Thibodeau spent years interviewing for head coaching openings and ultimately never landed the job.
When the Bulls finally hired Thibodeau in 2010, it was not looked at as a risky move, but one that seemed like a smart calculation. Chicago was rewarded for its decision with a 62-win campaign in his first season, and Thibodeau went on to win the NBA Coach of the Year.
The same lens can be applied to Chris Quinn.
Quinn has been a key member of Erik Spoelstra’s staff in Miami, which is considered one of the most respected organizations in the NBA. Within that system, Quinn has built his reputation as someone integral in player development, offensive organization, and adaptability.
The fact that Quinn has consistently drawn interest from teams should not be interpreted as a negative. If anything, it reinforces the idea that he is firmly on the league’s radar. Interviews are not easy to come by. They take days of preparation both by the candidate and the team. And to be awarded with an interview shows evidence of credibility. Teams do not want to waste time bringing in candidates they do not believe could lead their franchise.
For Bulls fans, the Thibodeau example should serve as a reminder that patience can pay off. A coach’s path to a head job is rarely linear, but continuing to get opportunities to interview seems to be an acknowledgement of respect for an individual.
If Chicago ultimately decides that Chris Quinn is its next head coach, his interview history should not be looked at as a warning sign. Instead, it can be seen as confirmation that the Bulls are interested in a candidate who has earned respect throughout the league. The last time they took that risk on an assistant coach, he ended up being one of the most memorable figures in franchise history.
