Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson announced today the team has appointed Lead Assistant Coach Jim Boylan to Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. Boylan’s role as the Bulls’ Interim Head Coach will begin immediately.

“After sitting down with Jim yesterday and discussing our team I feel comfortable giving him the interim head coaching position. Jim has paid his dues as an assistant coach and has his own ideas on the way he wants us to play,” stated Paxson. “Many top assistants never get the chance to be a head coach in the NBA and Jim has assured me he will provide the necessary energy and commitment this position requires. Ron Adams, Pete Myers and Mike Wilhelm will continue to play integral roles on the staff and will give great support to Jim and our team.”

Boylan, 52, is in his fourth season with the Bulls organization after joining the team as an assistant coach on May 19, 2004. He is a 14-year NBA coaching veteran, having also spent time on the sidelines in Cleveland under Mike Fratello (1993-97), Vancouver under Brian Hill (1997-2000), Phoenix under Scott Skiles (2000-01) and Atlanta under Terry Stotts (2003-04). He began his coaching career in the NBA in 1992 as video coordinator and advance scout for Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens’ Cavaliers. 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 the Marquette Warriors to the 1977 NCAA Championship and was later drafted by the Buffalo Braves in the fourth round (68th overall) of the 1979 NBA Draft.

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