Fred Hoiberg is pursuing Jim Boylen to join him with the Chicago Bulls as his top assistant coach.

The Bulls have received permission from the Spurs to speak to Boylen.

Chicago has expressed a willingness to make Boylen associate head coach.

Boylen is the second assistant on coach Gregg Popovich’s staff behind Ettore Messina. Boylen was recently appointed to an assistant coaching role on the Canadian national team.

The Spurs are determined to keep Boylen on their staff.

Boylen joined Popovich’s staff in 2013 after spending two years on Frank Vogel’s staff with the Indiana Pacers. Boylen spent four years (2007-11) as the head coach at the University of Utah, where he led the team to a Mountain West Conference title and an NCAA tournament.