Posted by:
gwoelfel on
April 25, 2008 at
1:04PM CST
BY GERY WOELFEL
The Milwaukee Bucks’ housecleaning project continues.
In the wake of firing their general manager, Larry Harris, and their head coach, Larry Krystkowiak, the Bucks’ three main assistant coaches from last season have also been dismissed.
Veteran assistant coaches Jim Todd and Brian James both confirmed Friday they were told they wouldn’t be retained.
Furthermore, it is believed Tony Brown, another veteran Bucks assistant coach, has also been informed he won’t be returning to the Bucks’ coaching staff.
Both Todd and James were hoping to remain with the Bucks as they both found a comfort zone in Milwaukee.
In fact, Todd had spent six seasons in Milwaukee, working for four different coaches.
He spent two seasons as an assistant coach under Chris Ford and one season under George Karl, Terry Porter and Krysktowiak.
“Milwaukee has always had a special place in my heart,’’ Todd said. ‘I know it sounds corny, but it’s true.’’
Likewise, James had hoped to resume his coaching career in Milwaukee, where he has lived the last three years.
But James, who has worked for several other NBA teams over a 10-year period, realized his job status was in jeopardy when the Bucks hired Scott Skiles as their head coach last week.
More often than not, a new coach will try to surround himself with his “own’’ coaches, ones they have worked with before.
That is apparently what Skiles will do. Skiles also had previous head coaching stints with the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.
“He’s a good coach; I have the utmost respect for Scott,’’ James said. "He told me this is the first opportunity where he’s been a head coach where he could bring in his own staff.
“So it’s disappointing, but I understand the situation.’’
The aforementioned three assistant coaches weren't the only Bucks' casualities this week.
Jarinn Akana, who was an assistant coach and player development employee, was dismissed as was long-time trainer and travel coordinator Andre Daniel and assistant athletic trainer John Anderson.
Akana joined the Bucks last summer and worked extensively this season with the team's highly-touted rookie Yi Jianlian.
Akana, who worked with Yi and other Chinese players before joining the Bucks, is expected to assist Yi and other members of the Chinese National Team as they prepare for the Olympics.
Daniels had been in the Bucks' organization eight years, the last four as the team's head athletic trainer. Anderson had been with the Bucks four seasons.
It's over. Find something else to write about. You've become boring. I don't even get into sports and you've made me tired. Maybe you can research Curling. That's another sport that has a small following and isn't in season.
Posted by: packer hater on April 25, 2008 3:48PM CST
Oh a big waaa waa boo hoo guys. You got something against curling? Timing is everything. Ceal with it. Basket Ball is over and has been. Time to write about something different.
In a related topic, the Bucks will be signing Kelvin Sampson as an assistant coach. He won't have to worry about giving gifts in the pros and should do a good job
Basketball is not over! It is for sorry teams like the bucks that import these crappy players that dont speak english. But if your interested Basketball goes until June ...... then its over.
Posted by: brewpackman on April 25, 2008 9:44PM CST
I may not be Albert Einstein, but if my math is right......Huck posted his first comment 16 minutes after the blog was posted.....isn't that a whole lot more than .0002 seconds? Dan Miller, when did you become the policeman who patrols Gery's blogs about other bloggers conduct? Are you the Dan Miller who coaches St Cat's football? If so, it makes sense for you to get on the good side of the JT sportswriters, doesn't it? hmmmmmm
cheetahs- that post was so dumb it made my head hurt. almost every team has "imported" players. Foreign players make up some of the best talent in the league. Two of the best players on the court right now for the Spurs are foreign - Ginobli and Parker. And America has been getting their ass kicked in international play for years now.
I don't think anybody should take Cheetah seriously. Just look at his profile. He writes as if his CAT is the blogmember. What is he in kindergarten?!?
Posted by: elaana on September 12, 2008 6:41AM CST
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