Source: Skiles set to run with Bulls
CHICAGO -- 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 Pete 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.
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| Scott Skiles was 116-79 as coach of the Suns from 1999-01.(AP) |
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.
