MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee Bucks hired former assistant Terry Stotts as their new head coach Friday.

Stotts, an assistant with the Golden State Warriors last season, coached the Atlanta Hawks for 11/2 seasons. He went 52-85 in Atlanta after replacing Lon Kruger in 2002-03. He also served under George Karl as an assistant for four seasons in Milwaukee.

Stotts replaces Terry Porter, who was unexpectedly fired June 22, days before the Bucks selected Andrew Bogut with the top pick in the NBA draft.

General manager Larry Harris said at the time that he wanted an experienced coach, and attention immediately focused on Flip Saunders and Doug Collins.

Collins withdrew his name from consideration to stay in his television analyst job, and Saunders, who is due $5.5 million from the Minnesota Timberwolves next season, apparently is waiting to see what happens with Larry Brown in Detroit.

Stotts was a finalist for the Bucks’ job two years ago, when Porter was hired.

The Bucks reached the playoffs in Porter’s first season but slipped to 30-52 last season.

After initially saying Porter would return for the final year of his contract, Harris changed his mind last month after the Bucks beat the odds and won the first pick in the lottery.

Prized free agent Michael Redd announced Thursday he would stay in Milwaukee and signed a six-year deal worth at least $90 million.

AP-ES-07-08-05 1715EDT

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