CHICAGO -- Tom Thibodeau was presented with the NBA Coach of the Year award Sunday afternoon.

The first-year head coach led the Bulls to a 62-20 regular season and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

If Bulls star Derrick Rose wins the MVP award as expected, Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau would be the 12th duo to win both awards. David Sherman/Getty Images

"I'm flattered, humbled and honored to receive this award, but I think it represents a lot more than just me," he said. "And it certainly reflects our team winning and our entire organization."

Thibodeau, 53, replaced the fired Vinny Del Negro in June, and with a rebuilt roster, the Bulls breezed to a mark that matched their best record since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen completed their second championship three-peat at the end of the 1997-98 season.

"I knew in the first couple of weeks that he was here that we had hit a grand slam," general manager Gar Forman said.

Thibodeau's only other head coaching job was for one season at his alma mater, Division III Salem State, in the mid-1980s. He got that after three years as an assistant.

He then spent four seasons on the staff at Harvard before going to work under Bill Musselman with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989. He won an NBA title while on Doc Rivers' staff with the Boston Celtics in 2008, where he made a name for himself outside of the inner circles of the NBA. Thibodeau tied Paul Westphal (1992-93 with Phoenix) for most wins by a rookie head coach.

"I knew I had a great job with Boston," Thibodeau said. "And I realize how hard these jobs are to get. I felt each of those opportunities was a great opportunity, but I felt this was the best one. After being here for a year, I realize how fortunate I am to be here. It's a great city, great fans, great organization, great players. And if it meant waiting 20 years to get this job, it was well worth the wait."

Rivers texted Thibodeau Sunday to congratulate him.