Springfield's Vinny Del Negro enjoys

nostalgic time in Boston as new coach of

Bulls

by The Republican Sports Desk

Friday October 31, 2008, 9:58 PM

Celtics 96, Bulls 80 Box Score | Photos | Blog

By JUSTIN A. RICE

BOSTON - It wasn't Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, but Vinny Del Negro was glad to be home.

"I've been to a lot of Celtics games growing up and I was at the Celtics' win over the Phoenix Suns in triple overtime," the Chicago Bulls rookie coach reminisced before meeting his home state team Friday night at TD Banknorth Garden. "There's been a lot of great games here, a lot of great basketball history, and that's why they have 17 banners up there."

The Springfield native and graduate of Suffield Academy became Chicago's 17th coach in franchise history in June and had dinner with family and friends on Thursday night before coaching his second NBA game in Boston.

"It's nice obviously to see my parents, sisters, nieces and nephews, high school coach," Del Negro said. "I grew up with the Celtics, I grew up coming to a lot of games at the Garden, so it's a great night."

As it turns out, Del Negro is also well connected to the other team that played three overtimes on that fateful night in 1976. He played the final two seasons of his NBA career in Phoenix before retiring in 2002. Then Del Negro spent three seasons as a color commentator for the Suns and another three in their front office before taking the Chicago job.

Del Negro won his coaching debut 108-95 on Tuesday night against Milwaukee, a team led by the previous Chicago coach, Scott Skiles, who Del Negro played 38 games for with the Suns.

"I feel comfortable," Del Negro said of being on the sidelines, "but we have a lot of games, and it just kind of started."

While they might have a rookie in the coach's box, Bulls assistants Del Harris, 71, and Bernie Bickerstaff, 64, have 26-plus years head coaching experience combined.

"He has a great staff around him, and I guarantee he'll learn every day as a coach,"Chicago general manager John Paxson told the Chicago Tribune recently. "I think our guys will be real receptive to the way he goes about teaching and coaching."

The coaching staff has its work cut out to turn around a team that won only 33 games last year despite sweeping Miami in the first round of the playoffs the previous season. And the Bulls have been banged up early, too, with veteran guard Larry Hughes injuring his right shoulder. Another challenge will be motivating fourth-year guard Ben Gordon, who is said to be unhappy after failing to land a long-term contract.

Chicago is also young. Gordan, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Aaron Gray, Thabo Sefolosha, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah all are 25 or younger. But Noah said it helps that they are all in it together with their new coach.

"It is his first time doing itm but everyone on the team understands that he's about the right things, so I think people like playing for him," said the former Florida Gator who won back-to-back NCAA championships. "He's somebody who relates to the players very well - he's a people's coach."

Del Negro said his transition to coaching was made easier by picking the brain of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, among others. The two played together for San Antonio in the mid-1990s. Del Negro has also played with Danny Ainge and Ray Allen during his 11-year NBA career in which he averaged 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game after being drafted by Sacramento in the second round out of North Carolina State in 1988.

"So to come back and see those guys is great, I'm just happy with the success last year of all those guys," said Del Negro, who doesn't get back to Springfield as much as he'd like because his family mostly lives on the South Shore now.

He also doesn't debate Travis Best about who is Springfield's best basketball product.

"No, no he's a lot younger," the 42-year-old said. "I got bigger things to worry about right now."