The Chicago Bulls are deeply saddened to announce that Bulls legend Johnny ?Red? Kerr has passed away at the age of 76.

?The entire Bulls organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Johnny ?Red? Kerr. Johnny spent his entire life around the great game of basketball. His name was synonymous with basketball, both here in Chicago, and throughout the entire NBA,? said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. ?Those that were fortunate enough to have known Johnny were touched by both his tremendous compassion for people, and his life-long passion for the game of basketball. We will miss him greatly. Our sincere condolences, and our thoughts and prayers, go out to the entire Kerr family.?

Kerr, a native of Chicago, was a part of the Chicago Bulls organization in various capacities for 35 of the franchise?s 43 seasons, most notably as a team broadcaster for more than 30 years. He also served as the team?s first head coach in 1966, and earned NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 1966-67 season, when he directed the first-year Bulls to a playoff appearance. Kerr is the only head coach in NBA history to lead an expansion team to the playoffs during its inaugural season. As head coach of the Bulls, Kerr directed the team to a record of 62-101 (.380). ?Red? was also the franchise?s business manager for two seasons (1973-74, 1974-75).

Earlier in the day the Bulls sent out a press release revealing the death of team legend Norm Van Lier, making it a sad day in Chicago's history.