DEERFIELD, Ill. — Saying he was "not at all proud," John Paxson apologized to the Chicago Bulls and fired coach Vinny Del Negro for their late-season altercation.

Paxson also made this clear: He plans to stick around.

Speaking publicly Tuesday for the first time since his confrontation with Del Negro in late March, Paxson said he accepts the criticism and "people saying I should probably be fired or released, whatever. I'm not going anywhere because I believe in what the organization stands for and what I stand for."

Del Negro, however, is going away.

That became official on Monday when the Bulls fired him in a long anticipated move after two 41-41 seasons and first-round playoff exits. A day later, Del Negro thanked chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, the organization and his players while praising his assistants and the fans in a brief statement outside the team's practice facility. He did not take questions.