The Milwaukee Bucks' search to replace coach George Karl is apparently coming to a head, with Atlanta Hawks interim coach Terry Stotts and Sacramento Kings assistant and Milwaukee native Terry Porter emerging as the two front-runners.

The field of candidates was winnowed down to five on Friday when Seattle SuperSonics associate head coach Dwane Casey, also thought to be a strong candidate for the Bucks' vacancy, removed his name from consideration.

As of Friday, five candidates were known to be interested in the job: Stotts, Porter, former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sidney Moncrief, Detroit Pistons assistant coach Mike Woodson and Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni.

The process will likely speed up now with Sen. Herb Kohl, the Bucks' owner, expected to enter the process this weekend to interview the finalists.

"The senator really likes Terry (Stotts) from his first stint with the Bucks," a source close to the process said. "But he also likes the other Terry (Porter), too. (Porter) is a Milwaukee guy and (Kohl) really feels the city would get behind him and generate a lot of interest in the team."