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Thibodeau named Coach of Year

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-03 07:55

Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau was named the NBA's coach of the year on Sunday, just as the Bulls prepared to open their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against Atlanta.

Thibodeau led the Bulls to 62 regular-season wins in his first campaign as head coach, and his young team, led by Most Valuable Player candidate Derrick Rose, defeated Indiana in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

"Very happy for him," Bulls center Joakim Noah said of the award. "Very well deserving.

"Coach is one of the hardest workers I've ever been around. He stays in late. He's the first one here. He was there for me all summer working me out. I felt like I really improved as a player because of him."

Thibodeau's first head coaching job with the Bulls this season followed two decades as an NBA assistant. He spent three seasons working for coach Doc Rivers in Boston before getting the nod from Chicago last June when he replaced the sacked Vinny Del Negro.

AFP