Aussie coach Cotter's perfect fit with Billy Donovan

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The coaching carousel has taken Damian Cotter all around the world.

From the Knox Raiders in the old SEABL to the New South Wales Institute of Sport, being an assistant and a head coach in the NBL for the Sydney Kings before heading over to the G-League and the bright lights of the NBA.

But he seems to have found a fitting home with the Chicago Bulls.

After three seasons in the G-League - two as an assistant with the Long Island Nets and the Capital City GoGo as well as one as head coach of the Windy City Bulls - Cotter has been an assistant coach for the Bulls since 2020, learning under Hall of Fame coach and two-time NCAA National Champion Billy Donovan.

It's an apprenticeship most aspiring coaches would dream of but the fit has been made even easier with the Bulls acquiring star Aussie point guard Josh Giddey and drafting former Illawarra Hawk, Lachlan Olbrich, this season.

The Bulls have a staff focused on player development as well as a general coaching staff with more oversight of game plans, general schematic items and implementing players with Cotter part of the latter.

"I actually spent some time last year talking with (Cotter). Super nice guy, just loves talking basketball, loves like working with the guys and you'll see him pregame either doing shooting stuff, rebounding, coaching them up on their form," Bulls beat writer from CHGO, Will Gottlieb, told basketball.com.au.

"He'll just either be talking (the players) through some of their drills and then he'll go through tape.

"(Cotter) has been here for a long time, I know he's got a good relationship with Billy Donovan and he thinks very highly of Billy and Billy clearly thinks highly of him because he's been around for so long.

"The whole Bulls coaching staff are just very good people and he definitely falls into that category.

"It's hard to know what (Cotter's) NBA aspirations are but I do know it's so hard to stick in the NBA. So many people are in and out or they have an opportunity with a coach but then that coach gets fired and then the coach doesn't have a new job and then they're out of luck because that was their guy.

"I definitely think there is something to be said for the fact that the Bulls have been consistent with Billy Donovan and Billy's been consistent with a lot of his staff who's been there with him the whole time.

"I think (Cotter) going through that, getting that experience, getting that opportunity and learning from a Hall of Fame coach is fantastic for him and I I hope he can continue to grow and achieve the things that he wants to.

"Either way, being an assistant coach on the Chicago Bulls and having multiple years of that experience, I think will really serve him well whether he goes to Australia (after the NBA). I mean, I don't know what he'll do but just kind of like spitballing, whether it's another NBA team or Australia or whatever it is, I think he'll just be able to take a lot away from being on the coaching staff of of the Bulls."

With the Bulls looking to build around Giddey after signing the Boomers guard to a four-year, $100m extension, Gottlieb said he was sure having Cotter on the coaching staff would help the franchise get the best out of their young star.

"I see them like doing like pre-game warmups and workouts together a little bit... I've definitely seen them working out together," he said.

"Last year and this year, they've definitely you know been working out together, been going through plays, watching film, stuff like that just in advance of games... but I'm sure just having a familiar face on the coaching staff as well as a number of people from Australia with (Olbrich) as well helps all of these guys."

The Bulls have started the season 2-0 with wins over the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic and Giddey starring in both games. They next take on another Australian in Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at 11am (AEST).