Who is Tiago Splitter? Bulls turn to former Spurs champion as new head coach
The Chicago Bulls are hiring Tiago Splitter as their next head coach, who has been steadily rising through the coaching ranks since 2018.
The Chicago Bulls are making a major shift on the sidelines, finalizing the hiring of Tiago Splitter as their next head coach, according to ESPN.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are finalizing the hire of Portland Trail Blazers interim Tiago Splitter as the franchise's new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Splitter succeeds Billy Donovan as the Bulls' coach after stepping into the head job and excelling in Portland last season. pic.twitter.com/m8e91FrvXC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2026
Splitter, who most recently served as interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, now steps into his first permanent NBA head coaching role after a rapid rise through the coaching ranks.
From NBA champion to coaching prospect
Splitter is best known to NBA fans as a key part of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 championship team, where he played alongside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili under Gregg Popovich. Splitter has long been viewed inside league circles as someone shaped by one of the NBA’s most respected coaching systems, an organization known for producing coaches and executives across the league.
After retiring as a player, Splitter moved into coaching and steadily climbed the ranks, eventually earning a chance with Portland’s staff before taking over as interim head coach last season.
Chicago’s decision signals a clear pivot toward a development-and-structure identity rather than a veteran-heavy, win-now coaching hire.
Splitter’s appeal is believed to center on his Spurs-developed system background, his modern player-development focus, and his ability to connect with younger rosters. His stint in Portland reportedly impressed front offices around the league, particularly in how the team responded under his leadership after he stepped into the interim role.
The Bulls landed on Splitter due to his ability to lead the team’s player development, organizational alignment on the franchise's direction and vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach rising through the ranks since 2018 as well as a seven-year NBA player with… https://t.co/j9q2h4o25b
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 15, 2026
What comes next in Chicago?
Splitter takes over a Bulls team that has been stuck in the middle tier of the Eastern Conference in recent seasons, searching for both identity and consistency. Now, the pressure shifts to whether Chicago’s front office can build a roster that matches the direction of their new coach, and whether Splitter can translate his fast-rising reputation into results as a full-time NBA head coach.
For a franchise that has cycled through different eras without breaking through in recent years, this hire represents both risk and reset.
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