Ron Adams, Andy Greer, Rick Brunson and Adrian Griffin have been hired as assistant coaches on Tom Thibodeau’s staff.
Also: Adrian Griffin rounds out Bulls’ coaching staff
September 9, 2010 — The Chicago Bulls announced today that Ron Adams, Andy Greer, Rick Brunson and Adrian Griffin have been hired as assistant coaches on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff. In addition, Randy Brown has been named Special Assistant to the General Manager and Pete Myers has been named a Scout. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.
Adams, 63, begins his second stint with the Bulls after spending the last one-and-a-half seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to his stint with the Thunder, Adams spent six seasons with the Bulls as an assistant coach (2003-08) and special assignments scout (2008). While an assistant, Adams helped guide the Bulls to three consecutive playoff appearances (2004-07). Adams also held assistant coaching stints with the Milwaukee Bucks (1998-03), San Antonio Spurs (1992-94) and the Philadelphia 76ers (1994-96). He also served as a player personnel-scout for the Portland Trail Blazers (1996-98). Prior to his work in the NBA, Adams coached at the collegiate level. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Fresno Pacific University in 1969. He was promoted to head coach in 1972, a position he held for three years. Adams was also an assistant coach at U.S. International, University of Cal-Santa Barbara, Fresno State University and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was head coach at Fresno State during a second tour of duty from 1986-90.
Greer, 48, has held three different assistant coaching positions in the NBA, most recently with the Memphis Grizzlies (2007-09), as a member of Marc Iavaroni’s staff. Prior to his time with the Grizzlies, Greer spent four seasons with the Houston Rockets (2003-07) under Jeff Van Gundy and two seasons with the New York Knicks (2001-03) under head coach Don Chaney. In addition to his NBA experience, Greer coached at the collegiate level for nearly two decades. Prior to joining the Knicks, he spent four years at Northern Illinois University, where he logged three-and-a-half seasons as an assistant coach and a half-season as the team’s interim head coach. Greer received his first coaching job as an assistant coach at Genesee Community College in 1983.
Griffin, 36, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach/player development with the Milwaukee Bucks. He enjoyed a nine-year NBA career that included stops in Boston (1999-01), Dallas (2001-03, 2005-06), Houston (2003-04), Chicago (2004-05, 2006-08) and Seattle (2007-08). Undrafted out of Seton Hall, Griffin played one season in Italy and three seasons in the CBA and was named league MVP and Finals MVP while playing with CBA champion Connecticut Pride in 1998-99. Following that season, he moved on to the NBA where he started 47 of the 72 games that he appeared in as a rookie with the Celtics. The Wichita, Kan. native advanced to the postseason in five of his nine seasons in the NBA.
Brunson, 38, a former Bull, returns to Chicago as he makes his transition to the sidelines of the NBA. In 2009-10, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Hartford. Prior to his year in Hartford, he spent two seasons at the University of Virginia, where he was the Director of Basketball Operations. A veteran of nine seasons in the NBA, Brunson played for seven different teams, including two stints with the Bulls (2002-03, 2003-04). A native of Salem, Mass., the 38-year old former point guard played collegiately at Temple University under Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney.
Brown, 42, served as the Director of Player Development for the Bulls during the 2009-10 campaign. Prior to his return to Chicago, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings. A 12-year veteran of the NBA, Brown played for the Sacramento Kings (1991-1995), Chicago Bulls (1995-2000), Boston Celtics (2000-02), and Phoenix Suns (2002-03). During his five seasons as a member of the Bulls, the Chicago native was a member of three NBA Championship teams (1996, 1997, 1998), including the 1996 squad that won an NBA-record 72 games during the regular season.
Myers, 46, joined the Bulls during the 2000-01 campaign as a scout and will enter his 11th season with the organization. Last season, he completed his ninth season as an assistant coach. He served as Bulls interim head coach for two games (at Dallas 11/25/03 and at San Antonio 11/26/03) during the 2003-04 season and one game (at San Antonio 12/26/07) during the 2007-08 season. During his eight-year NBA career, he played for five teams, including three seasons with the Bulls (1986-87, 1993-95).