CHICAGO (AP) -Doug Collins and the Chicago Bulls won't be reuniting.

Concerned that a second tenure as the Bulls' coach would spoil their friendship, Collins and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf agreed during a Friday phone conversation that the Bulls should look elsewhere.

``I called Jerry this afternoon and said, 'Let's move forward and make sure we stay the friends that we have been for 25 years,''' said Collins, who coached Chicago from 1986-89. ``It had to be a home run, and both of us had a little angst over it. So we both agreed it wasn't the best to keep going this way.''

The Chicago Tribune initially reported Collins would not be back on its Web site Friday afternoon.

Reinsdorf said the report is accurate but declined further comment.

Collins has a 332-287 overall record and was 137-109 with the Bulls when a young Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen couldn't get past the Detroit Pistons.

Collins had initially indicated he was not interested in returning to the sideline. That changed after the Bulls won the draft lottery.

The sides acknowledged last week having discussions and said there would be more talks once Collins' broadcast duties with TNT ended. That happened when the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

While Reinsdorf and Collins mulled a reunion, general manager John Paxson brought in Sacramento assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey for second interviews. Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Rockets assistant Elston Turner are also in the running, according to the Tribune.

After reaching the second round of the playoffs last year, Chicago expected to contend for the Eastern Conference championship. Instead, the Bulls went from 49 wins to 49 losses.

Coach Scott Skiles got fired in December, and the Bulls let interim coach Jim Boylan go at the end of the season.

Chicago was prepared to make Mike D'Antoni an offer last month, only to see him take the New York Knicks job before hearing the Bulls' pitch. Now, another high-profile candidate is out of the running.

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AP Sports Writers Larry Lage in Detroit and Rick Gano in Chicago contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.