Bulls Sign Skiles To 4-Year Extension
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CHICAGO – One day after he said he was through negotiating with the Chicago Bulls and was shocked by the process, head coach Scott Skiles agreed yesterday to a four-year contract extension to keep coaching the young team he led to a remarkable comeback this season.
It was a heart-to-heart phone conversation with owner Jerry Reinsdorf – about a 30-minute call that Skiles initiated – that got the deal done. So instead of leaving town, Skiles is staying put.
“I didn’t want anything to break down because, you know, sort of foolish pride on my part, or some sort of immaturity on my part,” Skile said. I wanted to have a man-to-man talk with the owner of my team.”
General manager John Paxson would not disclose the terms of the contract, but said: “He’s going to get paid well, it’s in line with the top coaches.”
Previous reports had said that Skiles had turned down a four-year, $17 million offer.
In the Bulls’ second season under Skiles, they improved from 19-47 to 47-35. They lost to Washington in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
