Long before Doug Collins became an insightful analyst on ESPN’s game broadcasts and studio shows, he enjoyed a successful (though notably titleless) tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
Now, 28 years after being fired from that role, Collins is headed back to Chicago to serve as a senior advisor to VP of basketball operations John Paxson, whom he coached back in the ’80s. The new gig will cause him to quit his job at ESPN, where he has worked since 2013.
Via the Chicago Tribune, here was Collins’ statement on re-joining the Bulls:
“People who know me know the respect that I have for Jerry, Michael (Reinsdorf), and the Chicago Bulls organization. I am looking forward to getting started and helping everyone,” Collins said in a statement. “To be able to stay involved in the NBA and work with John, Gar, Fred and their respective staffs, while not having to leave my family and continuing to live in one of the greatest cities in the world — the fit couldn’t be any better for me at this point in my life.”