MILWAUKEE (AP): Doc Rivers is about to resume his coaching career in a venue where his jersey hangs from the rafters.

The Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday night that they had hired Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin, who was fired on Tuesday after only 43 games. Rivers played at Marquette from 1980 to 1983, and his No. 31 college jersey has been retired.

“This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class organization with a talented roster of high-character players,” Rivers said in a statement released by the team.

The Bucks made the announcement during the final minute of their 112-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rivers will be introduced at a Saturday news conference.

“I talked to him today, and he’s on board with us and understands that the expectations for this team are very high,” Bucks forward Bobby Portis said. “I think he’s ready for it.”

This move marks a significant shift in terms of head coaching experience.

Griffin had never been a head coach before the Bucks hired him last summer, but he had 16 seasons of experience as an assistant. Rivers won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, and he has been a head coach for nearly a quarter century.

Rivers has a 1,097–763 regular-season record and a 111–104 playoff record over 24 seasons with the Orlando Magic (1999–2004), Celtics (2004–13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013–20), and Philadelphia 76ers (2020–23). His 1,097 regular-season wins put him one shy of Larry Brown for eighth place in NBA history.