The Bratwurst – Milwaukee Bucks Blog

Marc Berman of the New York Post is reporting that Scott Skiles has come to a verbal agreement with the Bucks to become their head coach.

It’s a great hire, as Skiles is one of the best X’s and O’s coaches around. He has a reputation as being tough to get along with, but the real problem is that he can’t stand players with ego’s bigger than their games. He quit as the Phoenix coach after only a few weeks of coaching Stephon Marbury, and had problems in Chicago with Eddy Curry, Jamal Crawford and Tyrus Thomas. Basically, Skiles isn’t interested in coaching losers (I may be a little quick to paint Thomas with that brush, but his immaturity is well known).

Of course, Larry Krystkowiak had the same problem, but with Skiles’ winning track record and the support of a new GM, he has much more power to influence his players to play his way.

One interesting sidebar to this hiring is that apparently Skiles and Krystkowiak are very close, and Krystkowiak had initially sought advice from Skiles about taking the Bucks job when it was offered last season. It seems that Skiles’ hiring is one more but of proof about the strength of Krystkowiak’s character — you would think that a lesser man would have trashed the organization to a friend of his.

I remember when Skiles was hired by Chicago, and the change in the Bulls was evident immediately, although it took a little while for that young team to win much. From the first game there was a complete difference in the amount of discipline and structure in their team, and their defense improved astronomically. Even the most casual fan could tell the difference between Skiles and the Bill Cartwright-run ship of fools.

Welcome.

UPDATE: ESPN is reporting that Skiles was the only candidate interviewed by the team, and that his contract is for four years and is fully guaranteed.