Dean's List For Tuesday, 2 June, 2015

We discovered a few nuggets while researching Fred Hoiberg after signing on as head coach of the Bulls earlier today. Much like Thunder GM Sam Presti knowing exactly who he wanted when he fired Scott Brooks, Chicago GM Gar Forman knew who he wanted during the disastrous final days of his relationship with the soon-to-be-fired head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Presti and Forman dipped into the college ranks to hire former guards who had no pro coaching experience. Heck, Fred Hoiberg never coached at any level before five successful seasons at Iowa State. Both Hoiberg and OKC's Billy Donovan will be under the spotlight after inheriting talented teams expecting to compete for conference championships—at least.

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Taste our Hoiberg nuggets, sans the calories:

-Never coached any level before 5 years at ISU

-115-56 at ISU, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles

-Signed 10-year ISU deal April 2013

-Signed 5-year $25 million Bulls today

-42 years old, played 10 years NBA (1999-2003 Bulls)

-4 years Minnesota Timberwolves' front office

-Open heart surgery in April

-Planned on taking Bulls job but talked with Pelicans & Magic

-Hoiberg was set to coach his most talented team yet with six of his top eight players back and a top-10 ranking all but a certainty

-Potential ISU replacements: Jeff Hornacek (HC Suns, $2M/year); T.J. Otzelberger (ISU asst)

-7th of last 8 Bulls hires to be making his NBA head coaching debut (Scott Skiles the exception)

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GM Foreman on Hoiberg today: "We feel strongly we've got a guy with a skill package of a winning coach, a natural leader and great communicator. We've known Fred for a long time, thought very highly of Fred. We have great respect for who he is as a person and job he has done. He was on top of our list as we began this process. ... He was the right guy to maximize our talent of this team."

Forman was an ISU assistant coach under the same Tim Floyd who'd become the Bulls head coach when Floyd was head coach in Ames and the hometown Hoiberg was the star player.

Hoiberg on Bulls: “I love this roster. I love the versatility of the players, the different lineups we're going to be able to play. A lot of coaches don't walk into a roster that has championship potential in a city that we know."

Hear more on the hire and from Hoiberg himself on our News9 sportscasts at 6 and 10 p.m.