General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the Bucks have signed Tony Brown to a contract as an assistant coach. Brown is a ten-year NBA assistant coach, having just completed his third season with the Boston Celtics. A veteran of seven seasons as an NBA player, Brown and Bucks Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak were teammates in Milwaukee from 1988-90.

“Tony was a hard-nosed, competitive player and he brings that same mindset to the bench,” said Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak. “He is well-respected in the league and someone our players will enjoy working with. Tony and I had a great relationship as teammates and I look forward to continuing that as we make preparations for the season.”

Prior to his three-year stint on the Celtics bench, Brown served as the lead assistant to Kevin O’Neill in Toronto. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons from 2001-03. The Pistons registered back-to-back 50-win seasons and captured two Central Division titles and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003 during that span.

A native of Chicago, Brown also worked for four seasons as an assistant coach in Portland from 1997-2001. The Trail Blazers had a 190-106 (.642) record during that period, highlighted by a Pacific Division title in 1999 and a 59-23 mark in 1999-2000. Brown began his post-playing career as an advance scout and college talent evaluator for the Bucks from 1994-97.

“Having begun my post-playing career in Milwaukee, it’s really special for me to be back as part of the Bucks,” said Brown. “I’ve always had great respect for the city, the fans and the Bucks organization, especially Senator Kohl. I am honored to work with Larry (Harris) and Larry (Krystkowiak) and the entire staff to get Milwaukee back to the playoffs.”

In seven seasons as an NBA player, Brown split his time with nine teams, finishing with career averages of 6.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 359 games. Brown played two seasons with the Bucks and averaged 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 90 games. His best statistical season came in 1986-87 with New Jersey when he averaged 11.3 points in 30.4 minutes. He also played in the CBA and overseas with Reggio Emilia in the Italian League (1992-94).

A 1982 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Brown averaged 5.4 points in 110 games while shooting a lofty 57.1 percent from the field. The Razorbacks went 93-27 and won three Southwest Conference championships during his four seasons (1978-82). Brown’s teammates at Arkansas include former Bucks Sidney Moncrief and Alvin Robertson.