The Bucks stunned the NBA universe Monday by firing head coach Jason Kidd in the middle of his fourth season with Milwaukee.

Kidd compiled a 139-152 record overall, leading the Bucks to the playoffs in 2015 and 2017. However, the Bucks have gone 4-7 in January and dropped to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. That was a factor in the front office's final decision, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Bucks made move on Kidd based upon dropping into the 8th seed in the East, frayed relationships in organization and general non-alignment, league sources tell ESPN. Bucks job will be most sought after of offseason, largely because of @giannis_An34.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 22, 2018

Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as the interim head coach for Monday night's game against the Suns, but who will be at the helm for the long-term future? Here are 10 candidates the Bucks will likely consider in their search for a new head coach.

Sam Cassell


Cassell has plenty of NBA experience as both a player and coach. He played for eight teams over the course of his career, including the Bucks, and he has served as an assistant coach with the Wizards and Clippers. Cassell has shown the ability to relate and connect with his players. For example, he played an instrumental role in getting Paul Pierce to sign with the Wizards during his time in Washington. Don't be surprised if Milwaukee's front office gives him a call.

David Fizdale


After being fired by the Grizzlies earlier this season, Fizdale is an obvious choice. He carried the "Grit'N'Grind" style of the old Grizzlies forward and helped push them toward the future with changes to their offensive style. There might be some hesitation with Fizdale given how his relationship with star center Marc Gasol went south, as the Bucks don't want to give Giannis Antetokounmpo any reason to think about leaving down the road. But Fizdale also has plenty of big-name guys in his corner, so this could be a nice fit.

Tony Bennett


Is Bennett finally ready to make the jump from college to pro? Virginia is once again near the top of the college polls, and Bennett's stock may never be higher with multiple NBA teams making changes this season. He also has a Wisconsin connection — Bennett played at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay for his father, Dick, who championed the pack-line defense. Let's see if he wants to go home.

Mark Jackson

Look, joke about Jackson's tenure with the Warriors all you want and how he seems to sneak in those little comments when he's broadcasting a Golden State game for ESPN. But he did help establish a new winning culture for the Warriors and lay the groundwork for Steve Kerr to build upon (Kerr has given Jackson credit specifically for the strength of the defense). He might be ready to take off the headset and return to the sidelines.

Monty Williams


As the head coach in New Orleans, Williams finished 173-221 overall with the Hornets/Pelicans, making two playoff appearances, including a first-round exit in 2015 to the eventual champion Warriors. Williams then joined the Thunder staff but left the bench in the middle of the season after the tragic death of his wife, Ingrid. He has since served as the vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs, but early reports already indicate he could be a frontrunner for the Bucks job.

On the Bucks coaching front, Monty Williams is a name to remember when it comes to offseason candidates. The former Pels coach has been patiently waiting for his next chance (while working in the Spurs front office).
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 22, 2018

Jerry Stackhouse


"Stack" spent 19 seasons as a player in the NBA, and he has made a name for himself as a coach in a hurry. The 43-year-old is the head coach of the Raptors 905, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Raptors, and it's not an opportunity he takes lightly.

"Anybody that knows me knows that I’ve got a lot of pride and I’m confident in what I do," Stackhouse told NBA.com last year. "This is what I do. This isn’t a fluke. I’ve been working at this thing for a while. A lot of people just see it now."

While Stackhouse is a bit behind the curve compared to other candidates, he brings undeniable energy and a desire to improve each day.

Adrian Griffin


Following nearly a decade as a player, Griffin has served as an assistant coach in Milwaukee, Chicago, Orlando and currently Oklahoma City. He has a habit of building relationships with those around him. He's a guy who has made an impact at every stop but doesn't need to take credit for individual or team success. Griffin is also a defensive-minded coach, having spent time under Tom Thibodeau with the Bulls, and that's absolutely something the Bucks could use, as they own the sixth-worst defensive rating in the NBA.

Jim Boylen


Boylen has been coaching for more than three decades now, starting back in 1987 as an assistant with Michigan State and currently serving as the associate head coach for the Bulls. Boylen knows what it takes to win, having been part of title teams with both the Rockets in 1994 and 1995 and the Spurs in 2014. The young Bucks could use some championship experience.

Rex Kalamian

Another coach with plenty of years under his belt, Kalamian has been on the Raptors' staff since 2015 under head coach Dwane Casey. Kalamian focuses primarily on Toronto's defense, and to his credit, the Raptors hold the sixth-best defensive rating in the league. Casey has relied on Kalamian and the rest of his assistants throughout the season, and with the Raptors second in the East behind only the Celtics, Kalamian's resume is looking pretty good.

Desmond Mason

Longshot alert! Mason enjoyed the highest-scoring season of his NBA career with the Bucks in 2004-05 (17.2 points per game) and became known for his high-flying throwdowns above the rim. The former Oklahoma State star expressed interest in coaching the Cowboys in 2016 and even created a checklist for the program. What would his master plan for the Bucks look like?
I wish Oklahoma State luck in this process! #goPOKES pic.twitter.com/ONSUkAeOSV
— D.Mason (@dmasonart) March 24, 2017
When you compare Mason to the rest of the candidates, though, he isn't nearly as appealing. Still fun to imagine