Taylor Jenkins has been hired as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, following Doc Rivers' departure. Jenkins, 41, previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies and was an assistant on the Bucks' successful 2018-19 team.
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Less than two weeks after Doc Rivers stepped down as the Milwaukee Bucks coach, the franchise has his replacement.
Taylor Jenkins is being hired as the new Bucks coach, according to the Journal Sentinel.
The 41-year-old Jenkins last coached for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025.
Jenkins is no stranger to Milwaukee and Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jenkins, who comes from the Greg Popovich-Mike Budenholzer coaching tree, was an assistant on the Bucks' 2018-19 squad that won 60 games.
Much is unknown about the Bucks' roster that Jenkins will oversee, including whether Antetokounmpo will be on it, but the hire is the first domino in a critical offseason for a franchise that's missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Who is Taylor Jenkins? Here's more on the Bucks' next head coach:
Taylor Jenkins is being hired to be the Milwaukee Bucks' new head coach.
Jenkins is 41 years old. He turns 42 on Sept. 12.
After having one of the oldest head coaches in the NBA in the 64-year-old Rivers, the Bucks will now have one of the youngest in Jenkins.
Jenkins was only in Milwaukee for a season as an assistant head coach under Budenholzer. But the 2018-19 season was one of the best in franchise history.
Taylor Jenkins previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies and was an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks during their 2018-19 season.
The Bucks hired Taylor Jenkins as a replacement for Doc Rivers, aiming to revitalize the team after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Jenkins will face uncertainties regarding the Bucks' roster, including the future of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he navigates a critical offseason.
Taylor Jenkins comes from the Greg Popovich-Mike Budenholzer coaching tree, which emphasizes strong team dynamics and strategic play.
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That season, the Bucks won 60 games, the most for the franchise since 1980-81, and were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
They advanced to the conference finals before falling in six games to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo earned his first NBA MVP that 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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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.
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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.
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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.
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Don Nelson accepted his 'Nellie Day' proclamation. He was a two-time coach of the year for the Bucks in 1983 and 1985.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Chris Ford coached the Bucks from 1996-98 and finished with a 69-95 record.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Jim Boylan coached the final 50 games of the 2012-13 season. He finished with a 22-28 record.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Jenkins landed his first head coaching job with the Memphis Grizzlies at 34 years old after that 2018-19 season with the Bucks.
In nearly six full seasons in Memphis, Jenkins had a 250-214 record.
But he was fired late in the 2024-25 season despite the Grizzlies holding a 44-29 record and being in position to make the playoffs for a fourth straight time under his leadership. The Grizzlies went on to be the eighth seed in the playoffs that year.
The Grizzlies had two 50-win seasons under Jenkins and were the No. 2 seed in the playoffs both seasons.
The Bucks' new head coach didn't play college basketball or in the NBA.
But he's been a part of the league since getting his start as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs’ basketball operations department during the 2007-08 season.
Jenkins has an economic degree in economics from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jenkins was an assistant coach on the Spurs’ G League team for four years before taking over as head coach for a year. He then spent the next five years on Budenholzer's staff in Atlanta. The team went to the playoffs in four years, including a top-seed and a 60-win season in 2014-15.
Jenkins followed Budenholzer to Milwaukee for a season in 2018 before he secured his first head coaching job with Memphis, where he coached Ja Morant. He was the second-youngest head coach in the NBA at the time.
Jenkins was out of coaching last season.
Counting interim head coaches, Jenkins will be the team's 19th head coach in franchise history. Jenkins is the team's third hire in less than three years after the firing of Budenholzer following the 2023 playoffs.
Here are the team's last five head coaches:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Taylor Jenkins, Bucks' new head coach? NBA record, age and more