NBA

• Bulls oust interim coach Boylan

  
  

  Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls on Thursday fired interim head coach Jim Boylan, who took over the team in late December for Scott Skiles, but failed to turn the team around during a disappointing 33-49 season.

  Boylan compiled a 24-32 record after being appointed head coach on December 27. Skiles had been fired just three days prior, on Christmas Eve.

  "Letting a coach go is never easy," said Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson. "Jim was put in a difficult position on December 27, without the luxury of having a training camp and with some of the issues that arose during his time as head coach."

  Chicago was without key cogs Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich for separate stints during Boylan's time at the helm, and also was involved in a more publicized off-court spat with rookie forward Joakim Noah.

  The Bulls made the playoffs in both 2006 and 2007 under Skiles.

  The 52-year-old Boylan was in his fourth season with the Bulls organization, having joined the team as an assistant coach in 2004. In 14 years as an NBA assistant, Boylan also spent time on the sidelines in Cleveland under Mike Fratello, Vancouver under Brian Hill, Phoenix under Skiles and Atlanta under Terry Stotts.

  Boylan began his coaching career in the NBA in 1992 as video coordinator and advance scout for Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens in Cleveland. He also coached in the Continental Basketball Association and in college, including stops at Michigan State as an assistant and as head coach at New Hampshire.

  Skiles, who was the 15th head coach in team history, took over the Bulls early in the 2003-04 season.

  04/17 14:39:12 ET