The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Taylor Jenkins as their 19th head coach. Jenkins previously served as an assistant coach for the Bucks and has been the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Key points
Milwaukee Bucks hire Taylor Jenkins as head coach
Jenkins was an assistant coach for the Bucks
He previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies
He is the 19th head coach in Bucks history
Mike Budenholzer praised Jenkins' work ethic and coaching skills
Mentioned in this story
Taylor JenkinsMike Budenholzer
Milwaukee BucksMemphis Grizzlies
The Milwaukee Bucks are set to hire Taylor Jenkins as the 19th head coach in franchise history, the Journal Sentinel learned April 23, learned from a team source.
Jenkins, 41, was an assistant coach for the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer for the 2018-19 season before taking over as head coach in Memphis. At the time, he was the second-youngest coach in the league.
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins calls a timeout in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins calls a timeout in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
“It would be hard to put into words what Taylor has meant to me, to the coaching staff that he’s been a part of – with me specifically for six years and the years in San Antonio,” Budenholzer told the Journal Sentinel in 2019. “He’s just an incredible, incredible human. He brings an incredible work ethic, the attention to detail, the feel for the game, the understanding of what’s important in building relationships. Just making a train keep moving, he’s been incredible for me and I’m forever, ever grateful to him.”
As for what Jenkins was bringing to the lead chair as a head coach, Budenholzer added, “A very clear vision of what he wants and he’ll be able to communicate and articulate and teach the players very clearly what he wants defensively, what he wants offensively and still allow players to make plays and have freedom within his vision, within what he wants for them.”
Q&A
Who is Taylor Jenkins and what is his coaching background?
Taylor Jenkins is the newly appointed head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, previously serving as an assistant coach for the team and as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Why did the Milwaukee Bucks decide to hire Taylor Jenkins?
The Bucks hired Taylor Jenkins for his extensive coaching experience and positive impact on team dynamics, as noted by former head coach Mike Budenholzer.
How many head coaches have the Milwaukee Bucks had in their history?
Taylor Jenkins will be the 19th head coach in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history.
What are Taylor Jenkins' achievements as a head coach?
Before joining the Bucks, Taylor Jenkins led the Memphis Grizzlies, showcasing his coaching skills and contributing to the team's development.
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Jenkins went 250-214 (.539 winning percentage) in nearly six full seasons with the Grizzlies before being fired with a 44-29 record at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Memphis went 9-14 in three playoff trips under Jenkins and advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in 2021-22 after winning 56 games.
A Texas native, Jenkins began his NBA career as an intern with San Antonio and did a spin in the front office before getting into coaching with the Spurs’ G League affiliate in 2008. He helped the Austin Toros win the 2012 G League championship and developed a relationship with Budenholzer, then a Spurs assistant.
Budenholzer brought Jenkins to Atlanta for his first formal assistant role in the NBA in 2013-14. The Hawks made the playoffs four times and reached the 2015 Eastern Conference finals.
After Jenkins moved to Milwaukee, the 2018-19 Bucks were the league’s best team at 60-22 and advanced to the conference finals.
In Memphis, the Grizzlies oversaw a rebuild centered around 2020 first-round draft pick and eventual rookie of the year Ja Morant. The Grizzlies had two losing records in Jenkins’ tenure, going 34-39 in his first year and 27-55 in his fifth year in 2023-24 when Morant and several other key players were injured most of the season.
Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Costello is seen at a meeting in 1974. He led the Bucks to the NBA Finals that season before the team fell to the Boston Celtics.
Don Nelson accepted his 'Nellie Day' proclamation. He was a two-time coach of the year for the Bucks in 1983 and 1985.
Don Nelson's .611 winning percentage (540-344) during his 10 years as the Bucks head coach is second-best among coaches in franchise history with at least one full season.
Del Harris shakes hands with Bucks owner Herb Kohl at his introductory news conference in 1987. Harris was the team's head coach for four-plus seasons.
Bucks head coach Del Harris is seen here watching a workout with Larry Krystkowiak in 1991. Krystkowiak would also later become the Bucks head coach 16 years later. Harris was 191-154 across his tenure as the Bucks head coach before stepping down early in the 1991-92 season.
Frank Hamblen was fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after the 1991-92 season. The Bucks were 23-42 under his leadership in 65 games after he took over following Harris' resignation.
Mike Dunleavy, who finished his NBA playing career with the Milwaukee Bucks, became the team's fifth coach in franchise history in 1992. He's introduced by owner Herb Kohl.
Mike Dunleavy finished with a 107-221 record as the Bucks head coach. The Bucks didn't have a winning record in any season under Dunleavy and had three of 10 worst seasons by winning percentage in team history under Dunleavy.
Chris Ford coached the Bucks from 1996-98 and finished with a 69-95 record.
George Karl coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 1998-2003 and had a 205-173 (.542 winning percentage). His 32 playoff games coached are fourth-most of any Bucks coach behind Larry Costello, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer.
Darvin Ham gives George Karl a hug as he high fives Tim Thomas and Ervin Johnson after the Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on 2001.
Terry Porter's hire as Bucks head coach in 2003 was a homecoming. The Milwaukee native Porter attended South Division High School and played college basketball at UW-Stevens Point.
Terry Porter gives directions to Michael Redd and Mo Williams during a game in 2004. Porter coached the Bucks for three seasons (2003-05) and finished with a 71-93 record and one playoff series loss.
An assistant coach for the Bucks during the George Karl years from 1998-2002, Terry Stotts returned to be the head coach in 2005. In 146 games and just short of two full seasons, Stotts went 63-83.
Terry Stotts was fired late in his second season as the Bucks head coach with the team 23-41. It was a steep drop-off after his first season when the Bucks finished 42-40 and were in the playoffs.
Larry Krystkowiak coached the Bucks for 1.5 seasons from 2007-08. He took over for Stotts late in the 2006-07 season and then coached the 2007-08 season. In 100 games, he was 31-69 as head coach.
A former Bucks player in the 1980s, Larry Krystowiak didn't have the success as a head coach as he did as a player. The team's .317 winning percentage (26-56 record) in his only full season as head coach in 2007-08 is the fourth-worst in team history.
Scott Skiles had a 162-182 record during his four-plus seasons as Bucks coach from 2008-13. He resigned after 32 games in the 2012-13 sesaon.
Scott Skiles coached the Bucks to one playoff appearance during the 2009-10 season. The team lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, 4-3, in what became known as the Fear the Dear season.
Jim Boylan coached the final 50 games of the 2012-13 season. He finished with a 22-28 record.
Larry Drew was the Bucks head coach for only one season in 2013-14. The Bucks finished with the NBA's worst record at 15-67.
Larry Drew was Giannis Antetokounmpo's first NBA head coach. The two greet each other with Asstant Coach Josh Oppenheimer looking on at the Cousin's Center in 2013.
Jason Kidd had a strong bond with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo during his time as the Milwaukee Bucks coach. Kidd had a 139-152 record leading the team from 2014-18.
Joe Prunty has filled in twice as an interim head coach, first after Jason Kidd was fired in 2018 and then in 2024 after Adrian Griffin was dismissed. He's 23-17 as interim coach in those two seasons.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer coached the team from 2018-23. He finished with a 271-120 record for a .693 winning percentage, the best of any Bucks head coach with at least one full season.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer celebrates with the crowd during the Bucks celebration parade on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. He led the team to the Bucks' first championship in 50 years.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game early in the 2023-24 season. Griffin lasted just 43 games as the Bucks head coach. He was fired with the team 30-13.
Adrian Griffin was all smiles on Bucks media day with owner Wes Edens, general manager Jon Horst and point guard Damian Lillard in October 2023. But just a few months later he was fired after only 43 games, having the shortest tenure of any Bucks full-time head coach.
Doc Rivers coached the Bucks for two-plus seasons from January 2024 to the end of the 2025-226 campaign. The Bucks were 97-103 during his tenure.
Doc Rivers, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026, did not win a playoff series while with the Bucks.
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See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.
1 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.
2 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Costello is seen at a meeting in 1974. He led the Bucks to the NBA Finals that season before the team fell to the Boston Celtics.
3 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Don Nelson accepted his 'Nellie Day' proclamation. He was a two-time coach of the year for the Bucks in 1983 and 1985.
4 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Don Nelson's .611 winning percentage (540-344) during his 10 years as the Bucks head coach is second-best among coaches in franchise history with at least one full season.
5 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Del Harris shakes hands with Bucks owner Herb Kohl at his introductory news conference in 1987. Harris was the team's head coach for four-plus seasons.
6 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Bucks head coach Del Harris is seen here watching a workout with Larry Krystkowiak in 1991. Krystkowiak would also later become the Bucks head coach 16 years later. Harris was 191-154 across his tenure as the Bucks head coach before stepping down early in the 1991-92 season.
7 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Frank Hamblen was fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after the 1991-92 season. The Bucks were 23-42 under his leadership in 65 games after he took over following Harris' resignation.
8 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Mike Dunleavy, who finished his NBA playing career with the Milwaukee Bucks, became the team's fifth coach in franchise history in 1992. He's introduced by owner Herb Kohl.
9 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Mike Dunleavy finished with a 107-221 record as the Bucks head coach. The Bucks didn't have a winning record in any season under Dunleavy and had three of 10 worst seasons by winning percentage in team history under Dunleavy.
10 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Chris Ford coached the Bucks from 1996-98 and finished with a 69-95 record.
11 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
George Karl coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 1998-2003 and had a 205-173 (.542 winning percentage). His 32 playoff games coached are fourth-most of any Bucks coach behind Larry Costello, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer.
12 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Darvin Ham gives George Karl a hug as he high fives Tim Thomas and Ervin Johnson after the Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on 2001.
13 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Terry Porter's hire as Bucks head coach in 2003 was a homecoming. The Milwaukee native Porter attended South Division High School and played college basketball at UW-Stevens Point.
14 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Terry Porter gives directions to Michael Redd and Mo Williams during a game in 2004. Porter coached the Bucks for three seasons (2003-05) and finished with a 71-93 record and one playoff series loss.
15 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
An assistant coach for the Bucks during the George Karl years from 1998-2002, Terry Stotts returned to be the head coach in 2005. In 146 games and just short of two full seasons, Stotts went 63-83.
16 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Terry Stotts was fired late in his second season as the Bucks head coach with the team 23-41. It was a steep drop-off after his first season when the Bucks finished 42-40 and were in the playoffs.
17 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Larry Krystkowiak coached the Bucks for 1.5 seasons from 2007-08. He took over for Stotts late in the 2006-07 season and then coached the 2007-08 season. In 100 games, he was 31-69 as head coach.
18 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
A former Bucks player in the 1980s, Larry Krystowiak didn't have the success as a head coach as he did as a player. The team's .317 winning percentage (26-56 record) in his only full season as head coach in 2007-08 is the fourth-worst in team history.
19 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Scott Skiles had a 162-182 record during his four-plus seasons as Bucks coach from 2008-13. He resigned after 32 games in the 2012-13 sesaon.
20 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Scott Skiles coached the Bucks to one playoff appearance during the 2009-10 season. The team lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, 4-3, in what became known as the Fear the Dear season.
21 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Jim Boylan coached the final 50 games of the 2012-13 season. He finished with a 22-28 record.
22 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Larry Drew was the Bucks head coach for only one season in 2013-14. The Bucks finished with the NBA's worst record at 15-67.
23 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Larry Drew was Giannis Antetokounmpo's first NBA head coach. The two greet each other with Asstant Coach Josh Oppenheimer looking on at the Cousin's Center in 2013.
24 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Jason Kidd had a strong bond with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo during his time as the Milwaukee Bucks coach. Kidd had a 139-152 record leading the team from 2014-18.
25 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Joe Prunty has filled in twice as an interim head coach, first after Jason Kidd was fired in 2018 and then in 2024 after Adrian Griffin was dismissed. He's 23-17 as interim coach in those two seasons.
26 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer coached the team from 2018-23. He finished with a 271-120 record for a .693 winning percentage, the best of any Bucks head coach with at least one full season.
27 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer celebrates with the crowd during the Bucks celebration parade on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. He led the team to the Bucks' first championship in 50 years.
28 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game early in the 2023-24 season. Griffin lasted just 43 games as the Bucks head coach. He was fired with the team 30-13.
29 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Adrian Griffin was all smiles on Bucks media day with owner Wes Edens, general manager Jon Horst and point guard Damian Lillard in October 2023. But just a few months later he was fired after only 43 games, having the shortest tenure of any Bucks full-time head coach.
30 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Doc Rivers coached the Bucks for two-plus seasons from January 2024 to the end of the 2025-226 campaign. The Bucks were 97-103 during his tenure.
31 / 31
See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?
Doc Rivers, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026, did not win a playoff series while with the Bucks.
The team rebounded to a 44-29 mark the next year before Jenkins was dismissed with nine games left in the regular season.
Despite the winning record, the Grizzlies struggled as ESPN reported. Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman insisted Jenkins fire a handful of his long-time assistants and hire new assistants in Tuomas Iisalo and Noah LaRoche to change the offense. The team made Iisalo the interim head coach after firing Jenkins and then formally named him the head coach before the 2025-26 season.
During Jenkins’ time in Memphis, Morant was the 2020 Rookie of the Year, the 2022 Most Improved Player, a one-time all-NBA selection and a two-time all-star. Big man Jaren Jackson Jr. turned into a three-time all-defensive team member − including the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year honor − and a two-time all-star.
As a team under Jenkins, the Grizzlies went from the league’s No. 15 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) in his first year to No. 6 in his second. His best team, the 2021-22 squad, had the league’s No. 4 defense and No. 5 offense. The 2022-23 Grizzlies had the league’s second-best defense.
