Bulls reach three-year contract extension with coach Jim Boylen

John Paxson’s mind was made up months ago.

The Bulls’ vice president of basketball operations not only wanted some stability with the organization’s coaching seat, but wanted a blue-collar culture to go along with it.

All Friday was for the Bulls was Paxson finally deciding to make his decision public.

As first reported by the Sun-Times on back on April 11, the Bulls announced they had agreed on a multiyear deal with coach Jim Boylen, putting the rebuild in his hands as it moves into Year 3 and beyond.

“Jim has a strong vision on where he wants to take this team, and he has done a great job establishing the culture that we want this organization to stand for as we continue to progress,’’ Paxson said in a statement. “He has tremendous passion for developing young talent, is a strong communicator and a good fit for this team.

“The organization is confident in the direction that he is taking our players, and we are committed to him.’’

And not just for another year, as his existing contract stated.

A source confirmed the original Sun-Times report that it will be a three-year deal starting next season, with the hope that some stability will now come to a chair that has been a bit rocky going back to the final two seasons under former coach Tom Thibodeau.

Fred Hoiberg took over for Thibodeau following the 2015 season, but there always seemed to be clouds of doubt hovering over Hoiberg from both within and on the outside. When Hoiberg was fired on Dec. 3, Boylen stepped into that role, and quickly convinced Paxson, as well as team president Michael Reinsdorf, that he was the right choice for the job.

“He is going to do it in a way where he’ll put his arm around you, look you in the eye and let you know that when you do that you’re not only letting yourself down, but you’re letting the entire team down,’’ Reinsdorf told the Sun-Times back in March. “It’s trust that he has their best interest at heart, and he does.

“He cares about the players and he cares about them as people, so from that perspective I think he’s done a really good job.’’

Record aside obviously, as the Bulls finished the season 22-60, going just 17-41 under Boylen. The good news for the first-time head coach was Paxson and Reinsdorf weren’t judging this injury-ridden season on wins and losses.

It was about setting the foundation for an identity that the front office felt was missing.

Boylen did that right out of the gate, as his tough love style that first week led to more than a few headlines, including a two-player coup to skip a practice that was quickly put down.

“Nobody is perfect,’’ Paxson said at his end-of-the-season presser. “I rub people the wrong way sometimes in this office. Jim is going to rub players the wrong way sometimes. Phil Jackson rubbed players the wrong way. The great ones do. We’re going to try to build something here with him as our coach and I’m confident in that right now.’’

So is Boylen.

He will now look to add a veteran voice to the coaching staff with the deal in hand, but more importantly, also ended the season feeling all of his current players had bought in to what he was selling.

“We obviously have guys around here that want to be coached, honor Bulls across their chest,’’ Boylen said several weeks ago. “That might not be for everybody. It might not be. But I know what winning looks like. I’ve been a part of it, and we’re going to try and build this culture to be a winning culture.’’