Pacers interview Bulls assistant for coaching job
May 24, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Chicago Bulls assistant Jim Boylan is the latest coach in the mix for the Indiana Pacers' job.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said Thursday the team interviewed Boylan on Wednesday.
``He's a guy we'll probably interview again,'' Walsh said.
Boylan was the lead assistant for Chicago this season, and he helped the Bulls reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. He also has been an assistant in Atlanta, Phoenix and Vancouver and was a college head coach at New Hampshire during 1989-1992.
Walsh dismissed reports that former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy turned down an offer from the Pacers to replace Rick Carlisle. Walsh said the Pacers interviewed Van Gundy twice and the Pacers were impressed, but never made an offer.
``We were in the stages of trying to talk to him,'' Walsh said. ``He made it clear that he was going to Sacramento for an interview. (Team president) Larry (Bird) said 'Fine, if you do that, we're going to continue our search.'
``We never got to a point where we said 'This is our guy.'''
Van Gundy, reached by telephone at his home on Thursday, didn't clarify the situation.
``Donnie can say whatever he wants,'' Van Gundy said. ``Donnie, Larry and (senior vice president) David Morway know what happened. However they want to characterize it is up to them.''
The Pacers also have interviewed current assistant coaches Johnny Davis and Chuck Person.
Walsh said the Pacers were not in a hurry to name a coach.
``I don't see any necessity to do this quickly,'' Walsh said. ``We're going to have further interviews.''
The Pacers fired Carlisle a month ago after the team went 35-47 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Carlisle had a 181-147 record during his four seasons leading the Pacers.