Coaching Career
Del Negro worked as a radio commentator for the Phoenix Suns before being promoted to director of player personnel for the Suns in 2006. In 2007, the Suns promoted him to the position of assistant general manager.
On June 9, 2008, multiple media reports indicated Del Negro had agreed to become the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls. He became the favorite for the job after former Bulls' coach Doug Collins withdrew his name from consideration.
Two days later, Del Negro was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Bulls, replacing Jim Boylan and becoming the 17th head coach in Bulls' history.
Del Negro finished his first season as head coach of the Chicago Bulls with a 41-41 record, sufficient for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls played a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, featuring four overtime games with a total of a record seven overtime periods, before losing.
Del Negro finished his second season as head coach of the Chicago Bulls with a 41-41 record, sufficient for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls lost the best of seven series in five games against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Chicago Bulls announced Del Negro's dismissal on May 4, 2010. On July 6, 2010, multiple league sources confirmed that Del Negro would become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. At the end of Del Negro's first season with the Clippers, the Clippers finished with a record of 32-50, missing the playoffs. Despite missing the playoffs, the Clippers did have the NBA Rookie of the Year, Blake Griffin. Del Negro and Clippers followed up this mediocre season by acquiring All-Star point guard Chris Paul and finishing fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 40-26, one game shy of the division leading Los Angeles Lakers.
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