For the American basketball coach who was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 2018 to 2020, see Jim Boylen. For the American football wide receiver, see Jim Boylan (American football).
He started his college career at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts then a strong NCAA Division II program before transferring to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His older brother, Mike, had enjoyed an outstanding basketball career at Assumption. He was Division II Player of the Year as a senior and among the school's all-time scoring leaders. Jim started at point guard his first two years at Assumption, 1973–1977, leading the team to a third-place finish in the national championship tournament both seasons. Following his sophomore season he transferred to Marquette University in Division I. He played point guard at Marquette, where he helped the Warriors win the 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament (Marquette's only championship) by scoring 14 points in the National Championship Game versus the North CarolinaTar Heels. After leading Marquette in assists in his junior and senior season, Boylan was drafted in the fourth round (68th overall) in the 1978 NBA draft by the Buffalo Braves, who became the San Diego Clippers after the 1977–78 season. Boylan played for the Tucson Gunners in the Western Basketball Association during the 1978–79 season. He was named a second team All Star, and he helped the Gunners with the WBA championship. However, Boylan never played an NBA game. He headed to Europe instead, having a short pro career. He played for Alviks BK of Stockholm, Sweden in the 1979–80 season.[3]
Coaching career
Boylan began his coaching career as a player-coach in Switzerland from 1982 to 1986 and led Vevey Basket to its first championship in its 30-year history. At age 31, he moved back to the States becoming an assistant under Jud Heathcote at Michigan State University from 1986 to 1989. Boylan then took over head coaching duties at the University of New Hampshire, succeeding Gerry Friel. UNH fired Boylan after three dismal seasons in the spring of 1992.
In 2004, Boylan became lead assistant to Skiles, who had taken over as head coach of the Chicago Bulls. On December 27, 2007, after the firing of Scott Skiles, Jim was named the interim coach for the Bulls for the remaining season. Boylan was not retained at the conclusion of the season after compiling a 24–32 record with the Bulls. On May 14, 2008, he was hired as an assistant to Scott Skiles by the Milwaukee Bucks. When Skiles resigned in January 2013, Boylan became head coach of the Bucks. The team went 22–28 under his guidance and made the playoffs, but were swept in the first round by the Miami Heat. At the end of the season, the Bucks decided not to give Boylan a new contract.[4] Instead, Boylan would be hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers later on in the same year. He would later on be a part of the 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers squad to earn an NBA Finals championship over the 73–9 Golden State Warriors.
^Hague, Jim. "From here to...da Bulls! Jersey City native becomes NBA head coach"Archived November 8, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Hudson Reporter, April 1, 2008. Accessed November 7, 2017. "After serving as an assistant coach in the league for 15 years, the Jersey City native and St. Mary's High School graduate recently received his chance to be a head coach, taking over when former Bulls head coach Scott Skiles was fired on Christmas Day."
