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Skiles is former NBA coach and player

The Chicago Bulls today announced the hiring of Scott Skiles as head coach. In accordance with club policy, terms of the multi-year contract were not announced.

Skiles joins the Bulls after last coaching the Phoenix Suns. During his time with the Suns, he accumulated a record of 116-79 (.595). The Suns twice made the playoffs while he was there, including a first-round series win over the defending World Champion San Antonio Spurs in 2000.

“I’ve always had a great admiration for Scott’s competitiveness, toughness and insights to the game of basketball,” said Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. “He did a great job taking over the team in Phoenix. He is one of the bright young minds in basketball and this signals a new direction for this organization.”

Skiles, 39, received his first head coaching job in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns during the 1999-00 season. He took over the Suns head coaching spot on Dec. 13, 1999 when Danny Ainge resigned and guided Phoenix to a 40-22 record the remainder of the year, the 12th-best first-year coaching record in NBA history. In his one full season at the helm, the Suns went 51-31 (.622) and finished third in the Pacific Division.

“I’m very excited to join the Chicago Bulls organization. It’s a challenge that I look forward to and I am eager to get at it,” Skiles said. “I’m looking forward to working with John Paxson. I have a great deal of respect for him.”

Skiles played for 10 seasons in the NBA with five different teams. He appeared in 600 games, averaging 11.1 ppg and 6.5 apg, while shooting .889 from the free throw line (4th best in NBA history). An All-American at Michigan State, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks (22nd overall) in the 1986 NBA Draft.

He still holds the NBA record for most assists in a game with 30, set on Dec. 30, 1990, as a member of the Orlando Magic. That same season, Skiles was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, when he averaged a career-best 17.2 ppg and 8.4 apg.

“On a personal level this is like coming home for me,” the LaPorte, Ind. native said. “I’ve always known Chicago’s a great city that has great fans and I look forward to returning this team to prominence.”

Prior to his promotion in Phoenix, Skiles was a member of Ainge’s coaching staff for two-plus seasons. Before that, he served as head coach of PAOK in Greece. Skiles joins the Bulls as the 15th head coach in franchise history and will make his debut on Dec. 1 when Chicago hosts the Milwaukee Bucks.