We know that the Chicago Bulls have their man in Tom Thibodeau. But was he their back-up plan? ESPN.com is reporting that Joel Ferguson, chairman of the Michigan State Board of Trustees, claims that the Bulls offered Spartan head coach Tom Izzo the position prior to hiring Tom Thibodeau.
“Chicago made an offer to him,” Ferguson said, according to the report. “Tom didn’t run and say ‘[Chicago] made an offer, [so MSU] has to up the ante.’”
The Bulls have disputed this statement to ESPN.
A source within the Bulls organization told ESPNChicago.com’s Nick Friedell that the team did not make Izzo an offer; however, the source did acknowledge that the sides held discussions.