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.