The Chicago Bulls announced several staff changes on Thursday afternoon.
Most notably, the organization confirmed via a press release that Austin Dufault has been promoted to the Director of Player Development position. The front office had fans and players alike scratching their heads shortly after the conclusion of the regular season with the firing of previous director Peter Patton. Hired only a few offseasons prior, Patton was a respected shooting coach who seemingly built a strong relationship with many players on the team. Particularly when we consider the Bulls’ vastly improved three-point success in 2024-25, as well as the growth shown by young players like Coby White and Matas Buzelis, the decision seemed ill-advised.
More questions surfaced when news broke that anonymous players were very frustrated with the decision. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley also reported that Patton’s firing could have been due to expressing opinions that did not “fit” those of front office exec Arturas Karnisovas. Not great!
Steve Weinman was another familiar face who was shown the door. The dismissal of the long-time analytics expert brought the Bulls’ analytical department down to a singular person, per CHGO’s Will Gottlieb.
To the Bulls’ credit, however, they have now filled those positions and then some. Dufault was elevated along with four other figures in the player development department. Meanwhile, Faizan Hasnany was named the new executive director of basketball strategy.
Joining him on the staff will be three outside hires: Burak Can Koç (Director of Basketball Research & Development), Tirdod Behbehani (Senior Manager of Data Science), and Jackson Hett (Basketball Analytics Coordinator). New director, Can Koç, worked with the Dallas Mavericks from 2021 to 2025, while Behbehani worked for the Wizards, and Hett last served as a coaching analyst for the Maine Celtics of the G League (per their LinkedIn accounts).
All things considered, this should be seen as some encouraging news ahead of next week’s training camp. As confusing as the previous firings were, these changes demonstrate a clear willingness to invest in two departments that have become essential in today’s NBA. Of course, whether or not this bolstered staff will lead to more success has yet to be seen. But the mere fact that the Bulls have decided to expand the staff is a positive sign, especially when we consider the youth movement they started last season.
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