Tom Thibodeau Has Set the Tone for Championship-Hopeful Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls finished the 2010-11 NBA season with a league-best 62-20 regular-season record, and much of that success can be attributed to the arrival of Tom Thibodeau.

In his first season as a head coach, Thibodeau won the Coach of the Year Award and looked like a seasoned vet on the sideline despite never having played the role in his career.

Prior to joining the Bulls, Thibodeau spent time as a scout in the league and was an assistant coach in several spots as well. Thibodeau was most notably revered for his most recent work as an associate head coach with a defense-first approach for the Boston Celtics.

Thibodeau's reputation began to grow after he was given the associate title in 2007. In 2008, his defensive strategies against Kobe Bryant were integral in containing the Lakers' star, ultimately proving to be a large reason why Boston was able to secure its first championship in more than 20 seasons.

When Thibodeau was finally given his proper due and seen as a legitimate head coaching candidate by teams in need of one, he was pursued by the New Orleans Hornets before deciding to take on the job with the Bulls.

Upon being hired and introduced by the Bulls as their new lead man, Thibodeau wasted no time in setting the tone for his young team. He put the ball in MVP Derrick Rose's hands and had a very specific plan that he wanted to see thoroughly executed. Rarely did we see the coach stray from his strategy at any point in the season.

While some will undoubtedly argue that Thiobdeau had some nice pieces to work with in Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, he was undoubtedly able to reap the maximum efforts from his athletes—and that is an impressive defining moment during his first season as head coach.

The head coach has made it clear that it's going to be his way or no way for any player on his team, and the players have bought into his philosophy as a result. Clearly a commanding presence in the huddle, Thibodeau's raspy voice has carried the same message to every member on the roster.

Coming off a 62-win season, the Bulls' campaign had a disappointing end when they were bounced from the postseason by the Miami Heat in five games. It's safe to say that Thibodeau would have likely traded a few regular-season victories in an effort to reach the finals in his first season at the helm.

But with everything that we saw from this team last season, and Thibodeau clearly stepping up and embracing his new role as head coach, it shouldn't be long before his team finds even more success.

It's going to be a battle for the Bulls to compete with the Heat and Boston Celtics for prominence in the Eastern Conference, but if 2010-11 served as a harbinger of Thibodeau's chances for success, I'm feeling very good about this team's future.