The Chicago Bulls are looking to build a strong contending team for the 2015-16 season and they are starting with their coaching staff that is close to having San Antonio spurs assistant coach Jim Boylen.
No announcement has been made yet making the deal official but Yahoo Sports reported that Boylen accepted the Bulls' offer Saturday.
The 50-year-old will be Chicago's associate head coach and is the first member of new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg's coaching staff.
Hoiberg was hired from Iowa State on June 2 replacing former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau who was with the team since 2010 but was fired after their season ended with a second-round defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 42-year-old expressed in his introductory conference that he is looking for a veteran assistant saying, "I want to get a veteran assistant in here who can really help me through things."
"Whether he's been a head coach or he's been around the game for a long time, that hire's going to be really important," he added.
Hoiberg has been eyeing Boylen as his assistant according to Sports Illustrated because of the coach's defensive specialties and he believes he can help him transition well from the collegiate ranks to the NBA.
In a report by Yahoo Sports, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich wanted Boylen to stay with his staff but understands the opportunity the Bulls handed to his associate head coach.
The Bulls had a great season this year finishing at 50-32 and saw the return of former MVP Derrick Rose.
Unfortunately they failed to make it past LeBron James and the Cavs under Thibodeau, although they have not missed the playoffs since he took the head coaching job back in 2010.
Thibodeau said in a statement recently that there were no regrets in his stint with the Bulls and salutes the team for what they achieved together.
