Tiago Splitter says Bulls coaching staff isn’t finished yet ahead of first season

Tiago Splitter hasn’t even coached his first real game for the Chicago Bulls and he’s already hinting at more moves behind the bench.

The new head coach told K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network that the coaching staff is still taking shape. His exact words: “Not done yet.” That’s all he gave up, which is enough to get people wondering who else might be coming in.

Splitter will run the show for Chicago’s first two Summer League games in Las Vegas, starting July 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Thomas and Mack Center. He wants to see where things sit with rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, but the bigger story might be who he surrounds himself with.

Who’s already on staff

The current assistant group includes Wes Unseld Jr., Henry Domercant, Austin Dufault, Martin Rancik, LD Williams and Pete Crawford. Unseld and the player development guys are reportedly staying on, according to Johnson.

Splitter made it clear he values continuity mixed with fresh perspective.

“It’s important to keep on guys who know the players well,” Splitter said. “A mix of guys who were here and new guys is good.”

That tracks for a team entering a rebuild. You don’t want to wipe out everyone who already has relationships with the roster, but you also need new voices to change the culture.

Why Splitter is here in the first place

The Bulls hired Splitter after his strong run with the Portland Trail Blazers. He took over there when Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of an FBI gambling investigation. Portland still made the playoffs that season, which earned Splitter a real shot.

Now he’s tasked with doing something similar in Chicago. The Bulls are in full rebuild mode and the 2026-27 roster will look completely different from top to bottom. Summer League is the first real look at what that future might be.

Splitter wouldn’t name any specific candidates for the open staff spots. But the fact that he’s still working on it suggests he’s being deliberate about fit rather than just filling chairs.

The Bulls tip off their Summer League schedule July 10. That’s when we’ll get the first glimpse of Splitter’s coaching style and how those rookies fit into whatever he’s building.