Boylen to coach USA against Cuba, Mexico in November window

COLORADO SPRINGS (USA) - Jim Boylen, a long-time coach in the NBA, has been put in charge of the United States national team for the November window of the Americas Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

The 56-year-old native of Michigan has spent the majority of his career as an assistant in the NBA but he did work from December 2018 through August 2020 as head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Having also had a few spells in college basketball, Boylen was notably head coach of the University of Utah from 2007 to 2011. He guided the Utes to the Mountain West Tournament title in 2009.

The USA will face Cuba and Mexico in the November window of the Americas Qualifiers, with the games taking place in Chihuahua, Mexico.

"TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY IN THE NOVEMBER FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GAMES IS TRULY HUMBLING."- Boylen

Helping Boylen will be USA Basketball coaches Ty Ellis and Othella Harrington. Ellis was an assistant for USA coach Jeff Van Gundy and the 2017 USA AmeriCup Team while Harrington worked as an assistant for the country during all three of the 2020-21 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifying windows.

"I am excited, honored and thankful to take on the responsibilities of head coach for USA Basketball's World Cup Qualifying Team," Boylan said. "To have this opportunity to represent my country in the November FIBA World Cup Qualifying games is truly humbling.

"I have previous coaching experience with both Othella Harrington and Ty Ellis. They're really good coaches and they have international experience, so, their basketball knowledge and advice will be invaluable. I’m really looking forward to this amazing opportunity."

The USA, expected to announce a squad of NBA G-League players, will train in Houston from November 20 to November 25 before traveling to Chihuahua. The games will be played in a bubble format, with the USA taking on Cuba on November 28 and Mexico on November 29.

FIBA