Jim Boylan sent Scott Skiles a text message Thursday to let him know he was succeeding his close friend as Bulls coach, albeit on an interim basis for the remainder of this season.
That gesture, though, is about as much association as Boylan probably can afford now that he must try not only to resurrect a lifeless season but to prove to players he is his own man and not merely a Skiles disciple.
“I think I’ve developed relationships with the players as an assistant, and I will use that to my advantage,” Boylan said after conducting practice at Berto Center. “Scott and I are similar in some ways and very different in others.
“My approach will be different. And I will be myself. I’ve talked to the players about that. I hope that any preconceived notions by anyone are put on the back burner and there’s an opportunity for me to show people what kind of coach I am.”
Boylan, who worked with Skiles in Phoenix and was Skiles’ only addition to his Bulls staff, convinced general manager John Paxson on that subject in lengthy discussions Wednesday and early Thursday.
First, he shared with Paxson ideas about the lineup and rotation that included replacing Ben Gordon as a starter with Chris Duhon. He also detailed a philosophy that included a more open-court style with emphasis on early offense and new offensive sets aimed at spreading the floor.
“I’m confident Jim is his own person,” Paxson said. “In this business, we all have connections and make friends. Obviously Jim and Scott are close friends. But Jim has ideas of his own, and he gets a chance to implement those as time goes on. It’s very hard. We’re in the middle of a season. We don’t have a lot of practice time. It’s going to be a process. But he’ll have a chance.”
As for any guarantees beyond this season, Paxson said Boylan understands the next 56 games are a job interview for him. Tellingly, Paxson added that interview is for “the rest of the league” as well.
A team source said Boylan received a modest bump in pay.
Paxson, who said he still might add an assistant, addressed the Skiles-Boylan relationship with players before practice.
“I think guys are on board,” Paxson said. “I know there are always issues about the perception of the connection with Scott. You have to play for somebody. Right now, given the state we’re in, I think he’ll bring a calming influence.”
Boylan, 52, certainly has paid his dues.
A coaching lifer, he played for Al McGuire at Marquette, assisted Jud Heathcote the season after Skiles graduated from Michigan State and has spent 14 seasons in the NBA under Mike Fratello, Brian Hill, Terry Stotts and Skiles.
Boylan’s only previous head coaching experience is in Switzerland and at the University of New Hampshire.
“You always have to put your own stamp on your team,” he said. “When you’re in a situation like this, just the fact there’s another voice in the room, players tend to listen closer. We have an opportunity to right ourselves. It has been a tough season for everybody. I believe we can raise our confidence level. We have the same talent we had last year.”
Boylan is comfortable with Paxson’s desire to talk about the lineup and rotation occasionally.
“It’s not like he’s going to be in the locker room at halftime telling me to play another guy an extra couple of minutes,” Boylan said. “I think he’s going to take an overall view of how we’re developing players and the playing time is being dispersed.”
Shockingly, in a season when many picked the Bulls to challenge for the Eastern Conference title, development minutes could occur at some point.
“If things don’t start to turn around to where we play better and win more games, of course there’s going to come a time where I’m going to have to see our young guys on the floor for significant minutes,” Paxson said. “I’m certainly not putting that on Jim now. That wouldn’t be fair to him. I want him to go about this trying to do what he thinks is right in terms of tightening up our rotation and finding combinations on the floor that helps us win games. We’re still trying to do that.”
On Nov. 28, 2003, before Skiles’ first practice as Bulls coach, Skiles wrote several negative words he had been labeled with on a greaseboard and erased them, symbolizing a fresh start.
Boylan had an equally vulnerable moment with his players early Thursday.
“I told the players the job kind of swallowed me up there for a couple of hours,” Boylan said. “When I first found out Scott was being let go, a certain amount of anxiety overtakes you. First of all, you want the job. Secondly, you’re thinking, ‘Well if I get it, will I be successful?’
“I finally realized that was no way to assume a position. So I had to let it go. And I did and now I’m totally at peace with what I’m doing. I’m just looking at it as a great opportunity.”
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
