Report: Bucks hiring former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins

Field Level Media|published: 04/23/2026, 4:42pm EDT

Mar 27, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins watches his team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins will be the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN reported on Thursday afternoon.

Jenkins, 41, was an assistant in Milwaukee in the 2018-19 season under head coach Mike Budenholzer. Jenkins was hired by Memphis in 2019 and became the franchise's all-time winningest coach (250-214, .539) in six seasons. The team went 9-14 in three playoff appearances (2021-23).

The Grizzlies fired Jenkins on March 28, 2025, despite the team's 44-29 record.

ESPN reported that Milwaukee officials, including ownership, met with Jenkins last week in Memphis and on Tuesday in Milwaukee to lock in his commitment.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers stepped down after a 32-50 season, the team's worst since 2013-14 and the first time it missed the playoffs since 2015-16.

Milwaukee compiled a record of 97-103 since Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin in January 2024. The Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the previous two campaigns under Rivers.

Jenkins was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) before joining the Bucks' staff.

--Field Level Media