Wednesday, June 17 -- The Chicago Bulls announced today that Jim Boylen has been appointed associate head coach on Fred Hoiberg’s coaching staff. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.
“I am very excited to add Jim to our staff as our associate head coach. His track record speaks for itself with nearly 30 years of coaching experience and three NBA championships on his resume,” said Hoiberg. “His work ethic and attention to detail will help our team every day, and I look forward to working with him as we prepare for next season.”
Boylen comes to Chicago with 29 years of coaching experience, including 17 years of service in the NBA. The East Grand Rapids, Mich. native spent the last two seasons on Gregg Popovich’s staff in San Antonio. Boylen entered the NBA in 1992-93 with the Houston Rockets, where he broke in as the team’s video coordinator/scout. Following four seasons in that role, he was promoted to assistant coach on Rudy Tomjanovich’s staff. In addition to his stints with the Spurs and Rockets, Boylen has also served as an assistant coach with Golden State (2003-04), Milwaukee (2004-05) and Indiana (2011-13).
"We are fortunate to be able to add someone with the credentials that Jim has," said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. "He will be a big asset to Fred and our players."
Following a collegiate career at the University of Maine, where he earned First Team All-North Atlantic honors and was runner-up to Reggie Lewis for conference player of the year in 1986-87, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach under Jud Heathcote at Michigan State. In 2005, after 13 seasons in the NBA, he returned to East Lansing, where he served as Tom Izzo’s top assistant. In March of 2007, after two seasons in his second stint with the Spartans, he was named head coach at the University of Utah. Boylen spent four seasons with the Utes and guided them to a record of 69-60 and a trip to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Boylen, and his wife, Christine, have two daughters, Ashlen Clare and Layla Blue.