Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 07, 2008 at 17:19:57:
Doug Collins is a heart-on-his-sleeve type of guy, so when he and his wife, Kathy, sat down for breakfast at their Scottsdale, Ariz., home Friday morning, the obvious didn't need to be said.
Collins wouldn't be returning for a second coaching stint with the Bulls.
A 15-minute phone call with Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf later Friday afternoon confirmed what the longtime friends already knew: Reinsdorf had too many reservations about entering into another business association with somebody he might have to fire.
"I love Doug Collins," Reinsdorf told the Tribune. "It's not a great thing for friends to jeopardize a relationship for business. And relationships with coaches always end at some point.
"I didn't push Doug to this decision. But while I was hesitating, he came to his conclusion. I'm disappointed because I won't be reunited with Doug. But in my heart, I know he made the right decision."
Collins, who forged his friendship with Reinsdorf after Reinsdorf fired him in 1989, said he's equally at peace with the outcome.
"I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins said in a telephone interview. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst.
"This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no.
"Jerry knows me well enough to know the only way I could do this is if I was totally engaged. And I just couldn't do that now."
Even with Friday's development, the now seven-week-old search is nearing a conclusion.
Suns assistant general manager Vinny Del Negro interviewed with the Bulls on Thursday for the first time. Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey had second interviews with Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson earlier this week.
Flip Saunders, fired by Detroit earlier this week, has sent feelers about the Bulls' job, but it's not believed Paxson has much interest in Saunders.
Sources close to two candidates who interviewed said the Bulls indicated they would make an announcement next week.
The question is: How will fans and players respond?
The Bulls lost a highly publicized race for Mike D'Antoni to the Knicks on May 9, a development that deflated several players. Those same players were�if not as excited as they were about playing in D'Antoni's up-tempo system�at least respectful of Collins' reputation and knowledge that is obvious in his work as an NBA television analyst for TNT.
If the Bulls hire Person or Casey or Del Negro�and even if their choice becomes a great coach or is a better fit�public perception is they missed on two "name" candidates.
Following the D'Antoni incident, Reinsdorf dismissed such a concern and pointed out Phil Jackson wasn't a big name when he succeeded Collins.
Sources said Paxson recommended hiring Collins to Reinsdorf last week, which is why several media outlets, including the Tribune, reported Collins' hiring as imminent. Reinsdorf consistently and publicly has said he never tells his general managers whom to hire but that he can exercise veto power.
Reinsdorf stressed that Collins reached Friday's decision on his own, though he wouldn't speculate on whether a formal offer would have been made. Collins declined comment when asked if Paxson had made it clear he wanted him as his coach. But Collins, who originally contacted the Bulls to express interest May 23, said he understood Reinsdorf's hesitation.
"I understand if Jerry had concerns about firing me again," Collins said. "My whole thing is you can't enter into an agreement with somebody if down the road, you think there's a chance for failure.
"This has nothing to do with my coaching ability. Jerry called last Friday about talking contract but said he needed to think about this a couple of days. Right then, what I should have said was, 'Jerry, let's not do this.' I could feel in his voice his concern.
"It would have been a lot of fun to work with Pax. Kathy and I had 10 years in that city and know how amazing a place it is, how great those fans are. Right now they're at an incredible time with the first pick of the draft. That team hopefully is going to bounce back and get back in playoffs."
Collins, who turns 57 in July, said he would continue his broadcasting career with TNT. He said this Bulls team is the only one for which he would return to coaching.
"I'm not going to coach another team," Collins said. "I spiritually felt I was led to this opportunity in Chicago. But I have a great job with TNT. I'm broadcasting the Olympics in Beijing this summer for NBC. I have a lot on my plate.
"Any time you make a decision that's the right decision, you have a feeling of peace."
Reinsdorf sounded the same way.
"I'm 72, and friendships are very important to me, especially one that has endured after a firing for close to 20 years," Reinsdorf said. "It was really nice of Doug to step forward and help us in this coaching search. But where things stand today are probably smart for him and smart for us."
(Chicago Tribune)