NEW YORK – Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Amway Center in Orlando.

The Bulls (24-7, .774) clinched the best record in the conference through games played Feb. 15 with their 121-115 win over the Sacramento Kings tonight at the United Center.

Thibodeau, the NBA’s reigning Coach of the Year, is in his second season on the sidelines in Chicago. Last season, he guided the Bulls to an NBA-best 62-20 (.756) record and earned the top seed in the NBA Playoffs. Chicago advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Thibodeau earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for games played in December/January. He owns a career record of 86-27 (.761).

Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks will coach the Western Conference All-Stars.

Boston’s Doc Rivers coached the East All-Stars last season, and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich coached the West All-Stars.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.