The Chicago Bulls have included BYU head coach Kevin Young in their ongoing search for a new head coach, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, who reported on Friday, May 29, that the franchise is “casting a wide net” and has held early conversations with the former Phoenix Suns assistant.
Young’s inclusion reflects a broader approach from Chicago, which is evaluating candidates with strong player development backgrounds and modern offensive systems after finishing the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 record and missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
Before taking the BYU job in 2024, Young spent four seasons with the Phoenix Suns, first as an assistant and later as associate head coach from 2021 to 2024. During that stretch, Phoenix built one of the league’s most efficient offensive structures, regularly ranking among the NBA’s top teams in half-court execution and spacing concepts.
His coaching path also includes extensive NBA developmental experience, including a long stint with the Philadelphia 76ers’ staff from 2016 to 2020. Across that period, he worked within systems focused on individual skill growth and lineup flexibility, traits that align with Chicago’s current roster construction challenges.
The Bulls’ search has also included multiple assistants and developmental coaches across the league. Cleveland Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant has been granted permission to interview. Bryant’s Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2025-26 before falling in a four-game sweep to the New York Knicks.
Other reported candidates include Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, former Golden State Warriors assistant Jerry Stackhouse, Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, Charlotte Hornets assistant Lamar Skeeter, and Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt. The franchise has also shown interest in coaches with long-term system experience, particularly those connected to established development pipelines.
Chicago’s coaching vacancy opened after Billy Donovan stepped down last month. Since then, the organization has undergone additional structural changes in its basketball operations department, aiming to reset a roster that has struggled to convert talent into consistent postseason contention.
