NBA Bulls Might Be Replacing Loughery

Nearly every day, Kevin Loughery has to pick up a local newspaper and read about his future as coach of the Chicago Bulls.

What Loughery has to be concerned about is whether he will have to pick up the newspaper in the next couple of weeks and turn from reports on the sports pages to the jobs’ section in the want ads.

Loughery, completing his second full year on the job with the Bulls, would normally be feeling fairly secure at this juncture. He guided the Bulls to their first playoff berth in four seasons and has seen interest in the club resurrected thanks to the play of rookie sensation Michael Jordan.

But a funny thing happened to Loughery on the road to job security: one of his closest friends--and direct boss--got fired.

Rod Thorn, the Chicago general manager who brought Loughery to Chicago in 1983, was dismissed by new owner Jerry Reinsdorf in late March. Loughery was stunned by the news but also was told his job was safe until the end of the season.

“It has had an effect on me and the team. The effect on me isn’t anything to be concerned about. What can I do?” Loughery said. “But it was something that caused some turmoil and that’s not what you needed going into the playoffs.”

Reinsdorf and the man he appointed to succeed Thorn, Jerry Krause, have repeatedly insisted that Loughery will not automatically be dismissed.

“We’re going to sit down and evaluate everything once the season is over,” Krause said. “We don’t have any plans for any changes at the present time.”

But almost immediately after Thorn was fired, speculation arose that Loughery would be the next to go even though he has time remaining on his contract. Names started being mentioned as replacements: Phoenix’s John MacLeod, Portland’s Jack Ramsey. Top-level college coaches. Other team’s assistants.

“I read all of that, but again there’s nothing to do and certainly nothing to worry about,” Loughery said. “You learn not to worry about things of which you have no control.”

Loughery’s philosophy has been affected by having gone through all of this several times in his coaching career. He began with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1972 and saw the club get off to a 5-26 start. Presto! He was fired.

The next year, he went to the ABA and coached the New York Nets. It was there he brought aboard a fellow named Rod Thorn to serve as an assistant. Loughery was fired from the Nets job in 1980.

Atlanta picked up Loughery in 1981 and he stayed there two years, making the playoffs both seasons, before Thorn was free to bring his friend to Chicago.

Loughery’s reign in Chicago has hardly been tranquil. Last year, the club went a dismal 27-56 and Loughery had a personality clash with star guard Reggie Theus that led to Thorn trading the popular player to Kansas City.

This year, Loughery has had run-ins with guard Quintin Dailey, who had criticized the Bulls’ coach for not playing him more. Dailey also said he would not play for Loughery if the Bulls’ coach was still around next season.

Whether any of this has a bearing on Loughery’s future in the minds of Krause and Reinsdorf remains to be seen. Loughery again said his only concern is finishing out the playoffs and getting the Bulls as far as he can.

“I think at the start our goal was to make the playoffs and that’s what we have done this year,” Loughery said. “You have to look at the record and the record is that we improved by nearly 15 games this year. As far as what they say and whether I believe them that their minds aren’t made up yet, I have to believe them. What choice do I have?”

If Loughery does go, it will continue a merry-go-round of coaches that has been a symbol of the frustrations in the Chicago franchise.

In 19 years, the club has had seven different coaches. During that time, the club has never won an NBA championship. It also has never reached the finals of the NBA playoffs.

“We’re on the right road here. Michael Jordan obviously was a big addition,” Loughery said. “We’re not quite there, yet, but with a draft choice or two and some more experience, this club can continue to improve.”

Whether it improves under Loughery’s tutelage next season should be known soon.