<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Scott Skiles was hired Monday as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are looking for stability on their bench following the short tenures of Terry Porter, Terry Stotts and Larry Krystkowiak and a just-completed 26-56 season. The 44-year-old Skiles received a four-year, fully guaranteed contract, a league source told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. Skiles was introduced at an afternoon news conference. "Scott is a proven NBA head coach who has shown an ability to win," said New Bucks general manager John Hammond. "He was a passionate player at all levels of the game and that thirst for success has served him well as a coach. We look forward to what he will bring to this franchise and we welcome him and his family to Milwaukee." Skiles brings extensive NBA head coaching experience and a disciplinarian approach to Milwaukee. That's something the Bucks didn't necessarily get from their two previous coaches, Krystkowiak and Stotts. "Scott Skiles is at the very top of the coaching profession," said Bucks president Herb Kohl. "I couldn't be more pleased with the decision and I know our fans will join me in welcoming Scott as our new head coach." Skiles, a close friend of Krystkowiak, was fired by Chicago in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons as the Bulls' head coach. Skiles also coached three seasons in Phoenix. "I want to thank Senator Kohl and John Hammond for giving me this opportunity" said Skiles. "There is an enormous depth of young talent on this team and the future is promising. I'm ready to work with John and the entire organization to bring a winning team back to Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and its passionate fans." The Bucks fired Krystkowiak on Thursday, one day after finishing 30 games under .500 in his one full season as coach. Hammond is attempting to mold the franchise, one of the NBA's worst defensive teams, into a championship contender. "The bottom line on this decision is that this is a results-driven league," Hammond said last week, when Krystkowiak's firing was announced. "Sometimes it comes down to wins and losses. Once again, the man that Larry was and the effort he put forth had little to do with the decision." Skiles was fired by the Bulls after telling management he thought the team needed "a new voice." He was 165-172 during his time in Chicago, which began in November 2003 when he replaced Bill Cartwright. The Bucks drafted Skiles in the first round of the 1986 draft, but he played only 13 games that season because of a neck injury. He played 10 seasons in the NBA.</div> Source I'm a little skeptical of the fit. Milwaukee needs a true motivator, a guy they can count on to "rally the troops" night in and night out. That team plays with zero heart. Skiles is coming off a once-successful Chicago tenure in which his players virtually quit on him this past season. We'll see what happens, but I will say that this team needs much more than just a coaching change. I believe they need to blow this team up.
If I'm a Milwaukee season ticket holder, I'm mailing my tickets back with a picture of my ass and a set of lipstick.
Another article on Skiles: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3356713 I like the move. The Bucks need discipline and they need a coach that's going to expect them to play some freakin' defense for a change. I agree, though. The new GM is going to be busy rebuilding this team to make them a contender.
