Deerfield, Illinois-The Chicago Bulls announced
Monday the team has agreed to terms on a contract extension with Head Coach Tom
Thibodeau through the 2016-17 season. Per team policy, terms of the contract
were not disclosed.
"Tom has
proven to be one of the top coaches in the NBA and we are happy that he has
agreed to a long-term extension that will ensure he is our coach for many years
to come," said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.
In two seasons
at the helm of the Bulls, Thibodeau has led the Bulls to a regular-season record
of 112-36 (.757; the highest winning percentage by a head coach in NBA
history). In his first year on the sidelines in Chicago, he coached the Bulls
to a record of 62-20, followed by a mark of 50-16 in 2011-12. In recognition of
his coaching efforts, Thibodeau claimed the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2011
and he was runner-up for the distinction in 2012. He also is the only coach in
league history to win the most games in the NBA in each of his first two
seasons.
In 2011-12,
Thibodeau reached the 100-win plateau in just his 130th contest as a
head coach, breaking the NBA record for reaching the 100-win plateau the
fastest. During his time in Chicago, he has claimed Eastern Conference Coach of
the Month honors five times and coached the Bulls to a playoff record of 11-11
(.500), including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in
2011.
