Posted at 9:51 a.m., Thursday, December 27, 2007
NBA: Assistant Boylan named interim coach for Bulls
Associated Press
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Jim Boylan was promoted today to interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who fired Scott Skiles on Monday after the team's disappointing start.Boylan was in his fourth season as an assistant under Skiles and has 14 years experience in the NBA but none as a head coach at the pro level.
"Jim has paid his dues as an assistant coach and has his own ideas on the way he wants us to play," Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement.
Assistant coach Pete Myers was in charge of the team during Wednesday night's 94-79 loss at San Antonio that dropped the Bulls' record to 9-17.
The 52-year-old Boylan also has been an assistant in Cleveland under Mike Fratello (1993-97), Vancouver under Brian Hill (1997-2000), Phoenix under Skiles (2000-01) and Atlanta under Terry Stotts (2003-04).
He also coached in the Continental Basketball Association and in college, including stops at Michigan State as an assistant under Jud Heathcote (1986-89) and as head coach at New Hampshire (1989-92).
As a player, Boylan helped lead Marquette to the 1977 NCAA Championship. He was later drafted by the Buffalo Braves in the fourth round of the 1979 NBA draft.
