Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen feels that Fred Hoiberg is the right man to fill the vacancy at the University of Nebraska, according to a report from Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune.
“Absolutely,” Boylen told the Chicago Tribune before the Bulls played the Raptors on Tuesday night. “It seems like an unbelievable fit for him and his family. He has history there. (Lincoln) is a great place to live. It’s in the Big Ten, which to me is a great conference. Whatever Fred chooses to do, I know he will be successful and give it everything he’s got.”
The fact that Boylen is rooting for Hoiberg might seem a bit strange to some Bulls fans. Chicago parted ways with Hoiberg as a result of his 5-19 start to the 2018-19 season. Boylen, the man giving his nod of approval, was Hoiberg's replacement.
Nebraska's head coaching job opened up on Tuesday after the school fired Tim Miles. There are some reports indicating that Hoiberg is viewed as a heavy favorite for the job. However, athletic director Bill Moos said that he has reached out to other candidates as well.
Moos implied that he did not meet with Hoiberg during the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, as was rumored: “I haven't had any deep dish pizza in Chicago, if that's what you want to know.”
Hoiberg, now 46 years of age, would be a great fit with Nebraska. Aside from his experience in the NBA, Hoiberg had a successful stint with the Iowa Cyclones. In fact, he became the fastest coach in Iowa State history to notch 100 wins (148 games).
Boylen, who once served as an assistant coach alongside Tom Izzo at Michigan State, says there is nothing like coaching a college team:
“There’s nothing like running your own program and recruiting the guys you want to recruit,” Boylen said after being asked to compare college and NBA gigs. “Running your own program — the academics, the style you want to play, being responsible for your guys on campus 24-7. It’s a challenge but also a cool thing.
“There is nothing like the having a mother or father drop off their son, and you are responsible for helping him grow from a young man to a man,” Boylen added. “When they graduate or have that success, there’s a feeling of accomplishment not only for them but also for you and your program. That’s pretty special.”
Whether Hoiberg will indeed be offered the job at Nebraska remains to be seen, but it certainly sounds like there is a high level of interest.
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