Chicago Bulls Fire Coach Jim Boylen

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Bulls have fired their coach, Jim Boylen, the team announced on Friday morning.

Boylen became head coach on Dec. 3, 2018. He compiled an overall record of 39-84 (.317). That percentage is the second lowest to Tim Floyd (.205) in Bulls history for a coach with a minimum of 100 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"After doing a comprehensive evaluation and giving the process the time it deserved, I ultimately decided that a fresh approach and evolution in leadership was necessary," said Arturas Karisovas, the team's executive vice president for basketball operations.

Chicago was 22-43 this season before the league suspension due to COVID-19.

Also concerning was the seeming lack of development of young players like Lauri Markkanen.

The firing doesn't come as much of a surprise after the team overhauled their front office, hiring Karnisovas to replace John Paxson in the operations role.  Marc Eversley was hired as general manager to replace the fired Gar Forman. Paxson remains with the team in an advisory role.

This move by Karnisovas is about more than just hiring a new head coach. It's about trying to change what has been a mostly losing culture since the championship days of Michael Jordan.

Karnisovas said the search for a replacement begins immediately. A lot of assistants currently in the playoffs are being thrown out as possibilities, including the Bucks' Darvin Ham and Nuggets' assistant Wes Unseld Jr.