Jerry Sloan, Milwaukee Bucks have met on coaching job

Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

In the category of unemployed Hall of Fame coaches, Phil Jackson has been capturing the large majority of the spotlight in recent weeks.

But while it remains to be seen if the former Lakers and Bulls coach will re-enter the NBA anytime soon, another member of this rarest of clubs may be getting closer to making his return: Jerry Sloan.

According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the former Utah Jazz coach who resigned abruptly in Feb. 2011 has already met with the Milwaukee Bucks about their vacant coaching position and is being seriously considered. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the coaching search.

Sloan has been looking for a landing spot for quite some time, but he could be a tailor-made fit for a Bucks situation that has much in common with the Utah job he held for 23 years. Milwaukee's locker room dynamic was shaky from training camp on, and the midseason departure of coach Scott Skiles and insertion of Jim Boylan as an interim did little to change the fact that the Bucks are in need of a coach who will command respect. While Sloan was reportedly being considered by the Brooklyn Nets, a reunion with former Jazz point guard Deron Williams is not on the horizon.

As was first reported by Yahoo! Sports, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the Bucks interviewed Lakers assistant Steve Clifford for the job on Monday. According to various reports, the Bucks have also interviewed former Portland coach Nate McMillan and Houston assistants Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff.