Former UM Captain Boylen Adds NBA 3rd Title

The San Antonio Spurs NBA title means a third championship ring for former UMaine Black Bear captain Jim Boylen. This is his first year as lead assistant for Greg Popovich and two other titles came when he was an assistant with the Houston Rockets.

Boylen was a guard for Skip Chappelle's UMaine Black Bears from 1983 to 1987. In his senior year in Orono he was runner-up to Reggie Lewis for conference player of the year.

Boylen spent 11 years as an assistant with the Rockets from 1992 to 2003. With players such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Houston won NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

After leaving the pros for college, Boylen returned to the NBA coaching ranks with the Indiana Pacers.

When Brett Brown (South Portland HS) left San Antonio to become head coach in Philadelphia, Greg Popovich called Boylen to come and be his top assistant coach.

NOTE:  Another former UMaine player, Rick Carlisle, won a NBA title as a Boston Celtics player in 1986 and also as head coach (Dallas Mavs, 2011). Carlisle also played in Orono under coach Skip Chappelle.