It was that dedication and perseverance -- along with the challenge of turning around an underachieving team and restoring a franchise to respectability -- that made things an attractive fit for Skiles, who was introduced as the team's head coach at a Monday afternoon press conference.
Skiles, 44, joins the Bucks following a three-year stint with the Chicago Bulls. He led Chicago to three consecutive 40-victory seasons, but was fired in December after the Bulls stumbled out to a 9-16 record.
Still, he was highly regarded by several teams and was believed to be a candidate to replace Isiah Thomas of the New York Knicks.
"Scott Skiles is at the very top of the coaching profession," Bucks president Herb Kohl said. "I couldn't be more pleased with the decision and I know our fans will join me in welcoming Scott as our new head coach."
Skiles owns a 281-251 record as a head coach, a tenure that includes slightly more than two seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Five of his teams have qualified for the playoffs, where he is 15-20.
Skiles is known as a hard-nosed, intense coach who demands accountability from his players. That's something that is sorely needed on the current Bucks roster, which was plagued by individual play and a lack of chemistry or cohesiveness almost from the season's start.
He's also been said to be hard on his players, something that Skiles doesn't consider to be a fault.
"I always feel like I'm supposed to apologize for that," Skiles said of his reputation as a tough guy. "And I'm not sure that's the tack I want to take. Anybody that is going to come to work with enthusiasm, concentrate and play hard will never have a problem with me. I don't care if they throw the ball in the seats 25 times a game."
Skiles paused for a moment after that comment before clarifying.
"They'll be pulled out of the game before they get to 25, of course, but they will never have a problem with me."
"It's not going to be easy and I don't have any magic dust to sprinkle on people," Skiles said. "We're going to have to do it by working harder, playing better defense and the first step will be getting competitive every single night; the team has not been competitive every single night.
"If we do that, good things will happen."
Both coach and general manager have a good idea of what Skiles will have to work with because of his background in the Central Division. He told reporters that he has, in fact, already touched base with several players since accepting the job, but has yet to begin a complete and thorough evaluation process.
While the team drew criticism from many for what appeared to be uninspired and, at times, selfish play, Skiles wasn't willing to offer any analysis or condemnations of his own.
"It's always easy for an outsider to pass judgment on a team," Skiles said. "I need to get to know the guys. I'll try to meet with guys and start to get to know them."
One of Skiles' first orders of business will be to assemble a coaching staff. He wouldn't speculate Monday on who might be considered for positions on the bench -- a list that could include former Marquette standout Jim Boylan, who was fired by the Bulls after succeeding Skiles last season -- but he did say that there was little chance of Krystkowiak, who remains a close friend, ending up on the staff.
"I would love to work with Larry at some point, but I don't know if this is the time or place for that," Skiles said
He also expects that the two will continue to maintain a friendship that has lasted for 25 years. Skiles said that he has remained in close contact with Krystkowiak during the last few weeks and the former coach understands the realities of the business.
Skiles checked with his friend ahead of time, when rumors began to swirl that he may wind up as Krystkowiak's replacement.
"We both commented that nothing is going to interfere with our friendship," Skiles said. "I have a lot of respect for Larry as a man ... had a lot of great times and conversations and I don't think anything's going to get in the way of that."
Skiles is returning to the franchise with which he began his NBA career. He was drafted 22nd overall by the Bucks out of Michigan State in the 1986 draft, but was limited to just 13 games after suffering a neck injury.
The season he spent with the Bucks, he says, played a major role in his development as a player. The Bucks that season were a veteran group with players like Jack Sikma, Sidney Moncrief, Paul Pressey, Ricky Pierce, Craig Hodges and Terry Cummings, that was not quite near the end of its run as a perennial contender in the Central Division.
"This franchise had a profound effect on my professional career," Skiles said. "Being around them for a year, that was it; they taught me how to be a pro.
"I was on some questionable teams after that in my career and I could always compare and contrast the professionalism of that group against some of the other lesser teams that I was on."
He went on to play in the league for 10 years, appearing in over 600 games (371 starts) with the Bucks, Indiana, Orlando, Washington and Philadelphia. Skiles finished with career averages of 11.1 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds. He set an NBA record in 1990 for most assists in a game (30); a record which still stands.
Though exact terms of the deal weren't announced, it is known that Skiles has signed a four-year, guaranteed contract which should add a level of certainty and stability that has gone through three coaches -- Terry Porter, Terry Stotts and Krystkowiak -- since George Karl was fired following the 2002-'03 season.
