Exploring Thunder Coaching Candidates

The unexpected firing of Scott Brooks leaves the Thunder without a head coach (or interim) for the first time in franchise history. There are several names being thrown around from all walks of coaching life. Here are a few.

Kevin Ollie (UConn Huskies) - Ollie played for the Thunder in 2009-10 and made an impression on Durant. KD called Ollie a “game changer” who “changed the culture in Oklahoma City” in a 2014 Grantland interview. He is currently coaching at his alma mater, Connecticut, where he won a national championship in 2014. Ollie played 13 years in the league but has never coached in the pros.

Billy Donovan (Florida Gators) – Donovan has been the head coach at Florida since 1996 (he took over when Lon Kruger left) and won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan became the head coach of the Orlando Magic for less than 24 hours in June 2007 before he had second thoughts and asked to be released back to the Gators. He has been involved with USA Basketball, mainly coaching the U-18 teams although he has been rumored to be the successor to Mike Krzyzewski as the head coach of the United States men's national team.

Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics) – Boston took a chance on Stevens two years ago and it has paid off. The then-36-year-old Stevens took over a rebuilding team and made the playoffs this year as the seventh-seed. He was fourth in Coach of the Year voting getting two first-place votes and finishing ahead of Gregg Popovich. He's got four years left on a six-year, $22 million contract with Boston so it's quite a long shot that he'll end up in OKC.

Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State Cyclones) – Hoiberg played 10 seasons in the NBA and is 115-56 in four seasons coaching at Iowa State. He was also the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves for a few years. He's currently signed through 2023 at his alma mater.

Tom Thibodeau (Chicago Bulls) – Thibs' contract with the Bulls runs out next year and it's unclear whether Chicago is even interested in signing him again. But, Thibodeau is known for his defensive coaching abilities and for his involvement in Boston's success from 2008-10. He's 255-139 in five years as the head coach in Chicago, but he clashed with players and