The Chicago Bulls have officially set Head Coach Tiago Splitter's staff for the 2026-27 campaign, bringing in five new assistant coaches.
Wes Unseld Jr. is back for a third season as an assistant, bringing extensive head coaching experience from his time with the Washington Wizards. Blake Ahearn joins after four years with the Memphis Grizzlies, and he's a former NBA G League champion and Rookie of the Year. His career free throw percentage of .946 remains an NCAA record.
Jamelle McMillan comes over from the Detroit Pistons, where he also led their G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. Rex Kalamian adds veteran savvy from recent stops with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. Jonah Herscu and former Bulls fan favorite Taj Gibson round out the new assistant coach hires.
Building a cohesive staff is critical for player development and in-game strategy. Martin Rancik's promotion to Senior Player Development Coach and Jordan Brink's new role as Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development signal a strong focus on improving the roster's core skills.
This new group, blending experienced heads like Unseld Jr. and Kalamian with development specialists, aims to address both immediate tactical needs and long-term growth. Their collective task is to steer the team back to winning ways after a couple of difficult results.
Blake Ahearn's journey is particularly notable. He wasn't just a coach; he played eight professional seasons, including NBA minutes with Miami, San Antonio, and Utah. Ahearn led the Austin Spurs to a G League title in 2018. His expertise, especially from the free-throw line, could be a major asset for Chicago's players.
Jamelle McMillan built his resume from a coaching intern in New Orleans up to an assistant role, with stops in Atlanta and Phoenix. Rex Kalamian has nearly three decades of NBA experience, having worked with the Clippers, Kings, and Pistons before his stint in Milwaukee. This depth of experience across different franchises is a valuable resource for Splitter.
The immediate focus is on correcting course after the recent losses. With the staff now finalized, preparation for the offseason and the 2026-27 schedule can begin in earnest.
Fans can track the team's progress and view the full upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The new coaches will be tasked with extracting more from the roster, aiming to convert close games into victories and build a more resilient defensive identity after conceding high scores in recent contests.
