Larry Krystkowiak is returning to the Bucks.
Krystkowiak, 41, who played for the Bucks from 1988-'92, will join the team as an assistant under Terry Stotts. He will replace longtime Bucks assistant Bob Oceipka, who is expected to be hired by Minnesota.
News of Krystkowiak's hiring was first reported by Steve Haywood, host of "That Being Said" on Milwaukee's ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights.
Krystkowiak had spent the past two seasons as head coach at his alma mater,the University of Montana, where he posted a 42-20 record and led the Grizzlies to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances.
"Larry has brought respect back to Grizzlies basketball and for that we will be forever grateful," Montana athletic director Jim O'Day said. "He was passionate in the way he coached and [played] for the University of Montana, and that was evidenced in the way our team played. We knew that we could only keep Larry so long. He's a very talented individual and will always be sought after. I don't believe this is his last stop and that some day we will see him in the NBA as a head coach like his mentor, Griz coach Mike Montgomery, who is now the head man for the Golden State Warriors. We wish him and his family all the best."
The Bucks are expected to formally announce the hiring Thursday. O'Day moved quickly on Wednesday, naming assistant coach Wayne Tinkle as Krystkowiak's successor. Tinkle, who was Krystkowiak's teammate at Montana in the mid-1980s, was born in Milwaukee but went to high school in Washington.
Krystkowiak's wife, Jan, grew up in Merrill, which is about 15 miles from Wausau, and played for the women's team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The couple has three sons: Cameron, Luc and Ben.
Krystkowiak, 41, who played for the Bucks from 1988-'92, will join the team as an assistant under Terry Stotts. He will replace longtime Bucks assistant Bob Oceipka, who is expected to be hired by Minnesota.
News of Krystkowiak's hiring was first reported by Steve Haywood, host of "That Being Said" on Milwaukee's ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights.
Krystkowiak had spent the past two seasons as head coach at his alma mater,the University of Montana, where he posted a 42-20 record and led the Grizzlies to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances.
"Larry has brought respect back to Grizzlies basketball and for that we will be forever grateful," Montana athletic director Jim O'Day said. "He was passionate in the way he coached and [played] for the University of Montana, and that was evidenced in the way our team played. We knew that we could only keep Larry so long. He's a very talented individual and will always be sought after. I don't believe this is his last stop and that some day we will see him in the NBA as a head coach like his mentor, Griz coach Mike Montgomery, who is now the head man for the Golden State Warriors. We wish him and his family all the best."
The Bucks are expected to formally announce the hiring Thursday. O'Day moved quickly on Wednesday, naming assistant coach Wayne Tinkle as Krystkowiak's successor. Tinkle, who was Krystkowiak's teammate at Montana in the mid-1980s, was born in Milwaukee but went to high school in Washington.
Krystkowiak's wife, Jan, grew up in Merrill, which is about 15 miles from Wausau, and played for the women's team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The couple has three sons: Cameron, Luc and Ben.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
