A Look at the Chicago Bulls 2009……….Bob Ociepka

Bob Ociepka is one of the Chicago Bulls assistant coaches on Vinny Del Negro’s coaching staff. Bob Ociepka was born in Chicago, Illinois and went to school at Quincy College. He started his coaching career at the high school level for York High School in Elmhurst, IL. While he coached there for four years during the 1980’s he served as a part-time volunteer scout for the Detroit Pistons. His first assistant coaching job in the NBA was for the Indiana Pacers in 1989. Then he bounced around as an assistant coach for several teams. He served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers from 1993 to 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996 to 1997, the Detroit Pistons from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1999 to 2001, the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003 to 2006, and the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007 to 2008. Then he joined the Bulls coaching staff after learning under many coaches.

He was hired along with Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris before last season to provide experience for Vinny Del Negro and help teach him. Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris (now retired) each had close to 30 years of NBA experience so Bob Ociepka and his experience went under the radar last year. Now with Del Harris retired, Ociepka would figure to be the second go to man for Vinny Del Negro behind Bernie Bickerstaff. I think many Bulls fans knew a lot about the Bulls coaching staff last season from new head coach Vinny Del Negro, experienced former NBA coaches in Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris, but I don’t think many people knew about Bob Ociepka. I barley ever heard him mentioned! Let’s hope he sticks around in Chicago for a while!