Last May, the Warriors fired a respected and successful coach coming off a 50-victory season and replaced him with a first-time NBA coach, who, with minor personnel tweaks, guided the team to a 67-victory campaign and trip to the NBA Finals.
Bulls' management and ownership knows Steve Kerr well. They have watched Kerr, who replaced Mark Jackson, use a combination of leadership and levity to win over players and help unite a fractious franchise.
The Warriors' model, rather than the last time the Bulls replaced a successful coach with an Iowa State product, is the path management envisions for Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg.