Collins Fired After 3 Years as Coach of Chicago Bulls

Doug Collins was fired today after three seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls because of what owner Jerry Reinsdorf called continuing philosophical differences.

In a terse statement, Reinsdorf acknowledged that firing the 37-year-old former NBA player would be “unpopular” but added, “We truly believe this will be in the best interests of all parties.”

The Bulls gained the Eastern Conference final last season before bowing to the champion Detroit Pistons. It was the club’s best finish since the 1974-75 campaign.

Collins, who had one year remaining on his contract, posted a 137-109 record in regular-season play and 13-17 in the playoffs.

In a statement accompanying the one released by the Bulls, Collins said: “When hired three years ago, I willingly accepted the challenge of leading the Bulls back to the type of team this city richly deserves.

“I’m proud of the fact that each year the team has taken another step towards an NBA championship and played with intense pride and determination.”

Collins succeeded Stan Albeck before the 1986-87 season, and Chicago struggled to a 40-42 mark, 10 more victories than in the previous season, when superstar Michael Jordan played only 18 games because of a broken foot.

The club improved to 50-32 the next season. But relations between Jordan and Collins, a collegiate and Olympic team star and four-time NBA All-Star selection during eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, were not always smooth.

Jordan sometimes complained that he was carrying too much of the burden and stormed out of practice at least once during the 1987-88 campaign.

Jordan and Collins made up in public, exchanging on-camera kisses several days later.

As recently as last March, however, Collins and Jordan met privately for nearly two hours after a practice session to discuss Jordan’s dissatisfaction.