According to his mom, Tom Thibodeau was bit by the basketball bug at an early age. And like many young players, he dreamed of one day playing on the game’s grandest stage — in the NBA. That never came to be, but Thibodeau, now 52, has achieved the next best thing.

After spending 21 years as an assistant coach in the NBA, Thibodeau, a New Britain High School alumnus, was named head coach of the Chicago Bulls recently.

“We’re so excited. This is his dream. This is what we wanted for him,” said Thibodeau’s mom, Ann. “I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. And it did.”

Ann and her husband, also named Tom, have lived in Berlin the past nine years. Four of their children reside in town as well.

Before free agent LeBron James announced that he will play for the Miami Heat, Thibodeau attempted to sell James on the Bulls during a three-hour meeting.

See the July 15 edition of The Citizen for more.