Nov. 26, 2003. 10:01 PM Bulls to hire Skiles as coach: Report CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have decided to hire former Phoenix Suns coach Scott Skiles to replace the fired Bill Cartwright, an NBA source confirmed Wednesday night. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, would not provide any further details. Skiles' agent, Keith Glass, said, "We've not signed anything, but we've been having discussions. I'm not denying that." Glass said he hoped a deal would be worked out soon. "We want to do it and it seems they want to do it, so I hope that's what happens," he said. According to media reports, the Bulls will introduce Skiles as their head coach Friday, but neither the Bulls nor Glass would confirm that. Skiles would replace interim coach Peter Myers, who has been coaching the team since Cartwright was fired Monday after the Bulls, who were expected to show dramatic improvement this season, got off to a slow start. Skiles, 39, was 116-79 as coach of the Suns from 1999-01, and was 5-8 in the playoffs. Skiles had a reputation as a fiery competitor as both a player and then as a coach. Reportedly, there was friction between him and his players at Phoenix and Skiles quit in February 2002. He has not coached since. Skiles has been considered for the Bulls' job before. In 1998, when he was an assistant in Phoenix, he interviewed with the Bulls, when they were looking for a replacement for Phil Jackson. But then-general manager Jerry Krause hired Tim Floyd. Skiles played for Milwaukee, Indiana, Orlando, Washington and Philadelphia during a gritty 10-year NBA career. He still holds the NBA record for assists in a game with 30 for Orlando against Denver on Dec. 30, 1990. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 assists. › Get 50% off home delivery of the Toronto Star. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAQs| Site Map| Privacy Policy| Webmaster| Subscribe| My Subscription -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Home| GTA| Business| Waymoresports| A&E| Life -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal Notice:- Copyright 1996-2003. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form.
Skiles is a good coach, but he had some problems getting along with young players in Phonex. I wonder how he will handle the egos on the bulls. Even Steve knows they are a selfish team.
Scott Skiles takes over with Chicago Bulls By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer November 29, 2003 AP - Nov 28, 4:42 pm EST More Photos DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The Chicago Bulls' famed triangle offense could be scrapped as one of many changes Scott Skiles will bring to the struggling team now in its sixth season of rebuilding. Even though Tex Winter, the designer of the offense, once sent him a book on its fundamentals, Skiles will stamp the Bulls with his own approach. Like Skiles, it will be aggressive. ``I'm not sure it suits this group,'' Skiles said of the triangle offense Friday when he took over as head coach. ``There will be some things that look similar and things that are a total departure from it.'' Skiles will demand more defense and team play from the 4-12 team he takes over following the firing of Bill Cartwright. ``There needs to be a real attitude of unselfishness and winning that has had a little slippage,'' he said. Skiles' reputation was forged by his feisty playing style and later by his no-nonsense, in-your-face approach during his first NBA coaching stop in Phoenix. He said coaching players with big contracts and strong wills requires a mixture of techniques. ``One day, it's telling them how much you like them and how happy you are and you encourage them. And other times, it's more serious than that and it can be confrontational,'' Skiles said. ``I think that is what has been put on me, is that, `He's confrontational.' I think there is subtle difference there. I don't search out the confrontation, but on the other hand, I'm not afraid of it either if it does occur.'' Skiles had a 116-79 record as coach of the Suns from 1999-02, and was 5-8 in the playoffs. His coaching methods created friction with some of his players, most notably Jason Kidd, before Skiles quit in February 2002. He hasn't coached since. ``It's going to be a feeling-out process. Scott is going to have to be patient and the guys are going to work hard and allow him to do what he has to do to make this change a positive change,'' Bulls veteran Scottie Pippen said. ``We feel his bulldog personality will carry over hopefully to the way we play,'' Jalen Rose added. Skiles told the players he would judge them on performance, not the past. ``I told them to wipe the slate clean,'' he said. AP - Nov 28, 4:40 pm EST More Photos General manager John Paxson said his expectations were for the Bulls to make the playoffs this season. But after a slow start, they collapsed on a western road trip, losing all five games and have dropped seven straight overall. Skiles will make his Bulls coaching debut Monday at home against the Bucks. ``I think we got the right guy to lead us into the future,'' Paxson said. Prep-to-pro projects Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler were expected to build on the progress they made at the end of last season when Chicago managed 30 wins. But Curry has struggled and Chandler has been hampered by a sore back. There are also published reports of team friction over selfish play, and there has been speculation that Rose will be traded. And some of the players aren't thrilled by the selection of Skiles to replace Cartwright. But despite that, Skiles said the Bulls still have time and the talent to make the playoffs -- especially in the weaker Eastern Conference. ``I have high expectations and so should they. I will not abandon John and Bill's goal at the beginning of the season to make the playoffs,'' Skiles said. ``That is very realistic to me.'' Skiles played for Milwaukee, Indiana, Orlando, Washington and Philadelphia during a gritty 10-year NBA career. He still holds the league record for assists in a game with 30 for Orlando. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 assists. Updated on Saturday, Nov 29, 2003 3:55 am ES
