Sources: Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg pursuing Spurs' Jim Boylen to be top assistant

Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is pursuing San Antonio Spurs assistant Jim Boylen to be his top assistant coach, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The Bulls received permission from the Spurs to speak to Boylen and have interviewed him, league sources said. Chicago has offered Boylen its top assistant coaching position and expressed a willingness to give the title of associate head coach, league sources said.

Boylen is the second assistant on coach Gregg Popovich’s staff behind Ettore Messina. Boylen was recently appointed to an assistant coaching role on the Canadian national team.

The Spurs are fond of Boylen and appear determined to keep him, sources said.

After five seasons at Iowa State, Hoiberg made the leap to the NBA and has been working to assemble an experienced staff of NBA assistant coaches.

Boylen joined Popovich’s staff in 2013 after spending two years on Frank Vogel’s staff with the Indiana Pacers. Boylen spent four years (2007-11) as the head coach at the University of Utah, where he led the team to a Mountain West Conference title and an NCAA tournament.

Boylen met with the Utah Jazz about their head coaching job in spring 2014. The Jazz hired Quin Snyder.

More NBA coverage: