Report: Bulls finalizing 3-year extension with coach Boylen

The Chicago Bulls are close to agreeing to a three-year extension with head coach Jim Boylen, a source told the Chicago Sun-Times' Jim Cowley.

Boylen's aggressive approach to coaching has apparently been well-received by the front office since he replaced Fred Hoiberg.

"I think what I've seen is his ability to show these guys he genuinely cares about them," Bulls vice president John Paxson said during the season-ending press conference, according to Cowley. "His goal is to get them better as individuals. I'm the first to admit that first week was like dynamite blowing up. It was a rocky week. What I've seen since then is a guy who embraces this challenge. He embraces the individuals he's coaching. He really does view himself as a teacher, a guy who wants to connect with the players."

The young Bulls players infamously rebelled against Boylen early in his tenure after the longtime assistant put the team through several grueling practices. Many players reportedly contacted the players' association when Boylen scheduled a practice following the second game of a back-to-back.

Boylen was an assistant for 18 seasons before receiving the promotion and went 17-41 in his first campaign as head coach.