Bulls Add Veteran Assistant Coaches to Aide Vinny 'The Bull' Del Negro

The Chicago Bulls announced that Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka have been hired as assistant coaches on Vinny Del Negro's coaching staff.

In addition, Pete Myers will remain in his current role as assistant coach. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

"When I first accepted this position, I made it a top priority to surround myself with an experienced coaching staff. Now, with the hiring of Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff, Bob Ociepka and current assistant coach Pete Myers, you would be hard pressed to find a staff with the combined number of years experience that we have assembled," stated Del Negro. "I already have specific ideas on how to use their past experience in our efforts to get this team where we want it to be."

Harris, 71, comes to the Bulls after spending the last eight years with the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to spending last season as a team consultant, the Plainfield, Ind. native served seven seasons as an assistant coach under Don Nelson and Avery Johnson. With more than 13-plus seasons of head coaching experience in the NBA, Harris owns a career record of 556-457.

Bickerstaff, 64, spent last season as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Charlotte Bobcats. Prior to that, he served as the Bobcats Head Coach and General Manager during their first three years in the NBA (2004-07). Bickerstaff owns more than 30 years of NBA experience, including 13-plus seasons as a head coach, going 415-517 during that span.

Ociepka (Oh-seep-ka), 59, brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to the Bulls. With 19 years of service as an NBA assistant coach, he has spent the past two seasons on the bench with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Myers, 44, will enter his ninth season with the organization and eighth as an assistant coach after joining the Bulls as a scout during the 2000-01 season.