Mike Budenholzer has reached an agreement to coach the Milwaukee Bucks, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation until the team makes an official announcement.
Budenholzer comes to the Bucks from Atlanta, where he coached the Hawks to a 213-197 record in five seasons. He guided the Hawks to the playoffs in his first four seasons, including a spot in the Eastern Conference finals in a 60-22 season in 2014-15. He was named coach of the year that season.
Budenholzer takes over a team loaded with potential featuring 23-year-old All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Budenholzer is tasked with improving the Bucks, who were the seventh seed and lost to Boston in the first round in April, and maximizing Antetokounmpo.
After Toronto dismissed Dwane Casey, it expressed an interest in Budenholzer, but the Bucks moved fast to ensure they got who they wanted.
The Hawks were 24-58 this season and in a rebuild situation. Budenholzer didn’t want to be part of that, and first-year Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk wanted to hire his own coach. He did that, landing Philadelphia assistant Lloyd Pierce.
ESPN first reported Budenholzer's hiring.