Stotts given permission to interview for Bucks' job

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks won&#39;t say who they are considering to replace George Karl as coach, but former assistant Terry Stotts said he has been given permission by his current employer to interview for the job. <br> <br> The Atlanta Hawks have given Stotts, their interim coach, permission to speak to the Bucks about the position, according to Tuesday&#39;s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. <br> <br> ``Obviously, I&#39;m interested in the Bucks job,&#39;&#39; Stotts told the newspaper. ``Hopefully I will have a chance to come up and talk to Larry (Bucks general manager Larry Harris) sometime this week.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Bucks&#39; coaching job opened up Sunday when the team let Karl out of the last year on his two-year, $14 million contract. <br> <br> Stotts, 45, served as an assistant under Karl during five National Basketball Association seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and four with the Bucks. <br> <br> Harris said he would not comment on the team&#39;s coaching search while it is in progress. <br> <br> Stotts&#39; status in Atlanta is uncertain while prospective owner David McDavid completes negotiations with AOL Time Warner on the purchase of the Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League and Philips Arena. McDavid signed a letter of intent on April 30 to buy the two teams. <br> <br> Stotts, a Cedar Falls, Iowa native, compiled a 24-31 record after taking over for Lon Kruger as Atlanta&#39;s coach last Dec. 26. Stotts began last season as an assistant with the Hawks, after leaving the Bucks organization. <br> <br> Stotts was the top assistant under Karl and filled in as the Bucks&#39; head coach for two games in December 2001, posting a 2-0 record in games against Toronto and New Jersey. <br> <br> ``I made a lot of good friends (in Milwaukee), and I loved the people I worked with in the organization, from the senator on down,&#39;&#39; he said, referring to team owner Sen. Herb Kohl. ``I really embraced Milwaukee and enjoyed my four years there.&#39;&#39;

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