Jerry Sloan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sloan’s transition from player to coach began shortly after his 1976 retirement. He initially accepted a head coaching job at Evansville but withdrew after just five days, narrowly avoiding a plane crash that later claimed the lives of the team and staff that season. Two years later, he joined the Bulls as a scout, quickly advancing to assistant coach before becoming head coach in 1979. His tenure in Chicago was defined by immediate defensive intensity; he led the expansion Bulls to their first division title before the Michael Jordan era. Despite winning only 94 games over less than three seasons, he secured a playoff berth in his second year. Sloan’s coaching style mirrored his playing days: tenacious and unyielding. He was known for a system that prioritized physicality and communication, setting the standard for what would later be called the 'Sloan Defense' even during his brief Chicago head coaching stint.

In Their Own Story

On March 5, 1969, Sloan etched his name in Chicago Bulls history with a career-high 43 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. Standing at just 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), he defied expectations by averaging 7.4 rebounds per game for his career, including a season where he grabbed 9.1 boards. His nickname 'the Original Bull' wasn't just a moniker; it was a reflection of his tenacious defense that helped the franchise reach its first division title before the Jordan era. In 1978, the Bulls retired his number 4 jersey, making him the first player in franchise history to receive this honor. His playing career ended in 1976 after a series of knee injuries. Later, as head coach starting in 1979, he led the team to the playoffs in his second year. However, following a difficult start in the subsequent campaign, he was fired after winning only 94 games and losing 121 over less than three seasons.

Reader's Guide

Jerry Sloan’s connection to the Chicago Bulls is foundational to the franchise's identity. As a player from 1966 to 1976, he was selected in the 1966 NBA expansion draft after being picked by Baltimore in 1965. He averaged over 18 points per game in the 1970–71 season and scored more than 15 points in three other seasons. His career free-throw shooting percentage stood at 72%. As a coach, his journey began with a scout role in 1976, followed by an assistant coaching stint before his promotion to head coach in 1979. He led the Bulls to their first and only division title prior to the Jordan era. His coaching record in Chicago stands at 94 wins and 121 losses. Though his time as head coach was brief compared to his later success with Utah, he established a defensive culture that defined the team's early years. The franchise retired his number 4 jersey in 1978, cementing his status as 'the Original Bull.'

Did You Know?

• Sloan scored a career-high 43 points in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 5, 1969.
• He was the first player to have his number retired by the Chicago Bulls when number 4 was honored in 1978.
• As head coach of the Bulls from 1979, he led the team to their only division title before the Michael Jordan era.
• Sloan narrowly avoided a plane crash in 1976 after withdrawing from a coaching job at Evansville just five days prior; the team and staff died that same season.