Billy Donovan set to join Spurs staff as Mitch Johnson’s lead assistant, after stepping away from Bulls

Billy Donovan is expected to take on a new role with the San Antonio Spurs after stepping away from the Chicago Bulls as head coach, according to multiple reports. The move would make Donovan, a longtime NBA head coach, a lead assistant under Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, shifting him from decision-maker to staff leader within a young organization.

Donovan last coached Chicago for five seasons in his final stretch, stepping down in April, CBS Sports reported. The same reporting described the 61-year-old’s coaching background across college and the NBA, including two national championships at Florida and extensive NBA experience dating back to his arrival with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015. Donovan’s NBA head-coaching record across stops was described as 469-413, with postseason appearances in all five Thunder seasons during his tenure there.

The Bulls’ performance under Donovan varied sharply in his later years. CBS Sports reported that Chicago produced only one playoff berth during his watch, coming in the 2021-22 season, while failing to reach the postseason or finish with a winning record in each of his final four seasons. Even with those results, CBS Sports also reported that Chicago had wanted Donovan to return as coach for the following season before he chose to pursue other opportunities.

Multiple outlets framed Donovan’s Spurs job as a clear staff-building move. CBS Sports reported the Spurs would add him as Johnson’s lead assistant, a role that typically carries heavy responsibility for day-to-day preparation and assisting with both scheme and player development. The Spurs’ staff need is especially prominent in franchises emphasizing growth, where experienced coaches can help shape learning processes for younger players and refine offensive and defensive identity.

Donovan’s departure from Chicago came after discussions with ownership, and the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the content of his April statement in describing that he stepped away so the organization could allow its search process to unfold. That context matters in understanding why a coach with Donovan’s résumé would accept an assistant role, rather than continuing to chase another head-coaching job immediately.

For the Spurs, the practical impact is likely to be felt in how quickly new systems can be installed and how consistently players are coached through the details. Donovan’s history suggests a focus on preparation and structure, traits that can stabilize a staff as teams adjust roster roles and refine rotations through the season.

What to watch next is whether the Spurs finalize the full staff structure around Johnson and how Donovan’s responsibilities are defined internally, since “lead assistant” can vary by organization. If the move is confirmed in an official team announcement, it would provide a clearer picture of who will handle game-planning, player development, and integration of personnel on the court.

Until the Spurs make their own personnel announcement, the Donovan hiring remains reported rather than formally verified. Still, the timing and the framing in multiple NBA-focused outlets suggest a deliberate effort to add an experienced, systems-minded coach to San Antonio’s bench.