Did you know that this former head coach is now a consultant for the Pacers?

Virtually nothing has changed for the Indiana Pacers and their coaching staff since Rick Carlisle arrived last season. After all, the crew remains the same with familiar faces like top assistant Lloyd Pierce, assistants Ronald Nored, Mike Weinar, and Jenny Boucek, and player development coaches Calbert Cheaney, Maurice Baker, and Jannero Pargo still serving as the brains on the sidelines.

However, it appears that the team has added some reinforcements in that regard away from the public eye, with a former NBA head coach now serving as an active consultant for the Pacers this season.

Former NBA head coach now a consultant for the Indiana Pacers

Jim Boylen, whom fans probably remember as the forthright ex-head coach of the Chicago Bulls before his unceremonious exit from the team in 2020, is know a consultant for Carlisle and the Pacers.

Fieldhouse Files’ Scott Agness (subscription required) bared that Boylen had been with the team in his role since the start of the present campaign, though his inclusion on the crew was bereft of any formal announcement from the franchise. Still, credited him for his contributions for the team this year after congratulating him for successfully leading Team USA in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

"Jim is one of our coaching consultants this year. He’s done a great job for us. And that has been a monumental task to do that so congratulations to him."

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While Boylen’s head coaching resume is far from sparkling, he has been one of the more notable assistants in the league with three titles to his name, winning twice with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995 before serving as one of Gregg Popovich’s confidants on that memorable 2014 San Antonio Spurs title team.

Known as a hard-nosed, defensive-minded head coach, Boylen has actually stirred the Bulls to a 12th-ranked defense in his lone full season with the team despite Chicago touting one of the worst records in the association.

His name value may not be sterling right now, but with the Indiana Pacers currently ranking a meager 24th in defensive rating this season, they need everything they can get to instill a tougher defensive mentality on the team, making Jim Boylen’s surprise presence a much-welcome one.