Bulls Hire Fred Hoiberg As New Head Coach

CHICAGO -- Fred Hoiberg was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls Tuesday.

The former Iowa State coach said he is looking forward to the opportunity that comes with coaching at the NBA level.

"I think the big thing for me is I have always run an NBA-type system," Hoiberg said. "I'm not coming into this [having] never experienced NBA basketball.

"My 10 years as a player after my first [heart surgery] back in '05 when my career was cut short, I was planning on playing hopefully at least another five years. Reality kind of sets in, you move onto the next phase of your life. Those four years in the front office were as valuable of years, for me, as any I ever had."

Hoiberg's arrival in Chicago isn't a surprise. He has long been a favorite of the Bulls' front office and has become a close friend of general manager Gar Forman over the past two decades.

Hoiberg, 42, spent four of his 10 years in the NBA playing in Chicago, and the feeling within the Bulls' organization is that Hoiberg's pro-style offense will pay immediate dividends.