The Hawks turned to the four-championship pedigree of the Spurs for its new direction.
Atlanta hired Mike Budenholzer, San Antonio’s top assistant, as their head coach Tuesday. Budenholzer will continue to coach with the Spurs through the NBA Finals, which start June 6. San Antonio advanced to the championship series Monday after defeating the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals.
Budenholzer will be introduced at 11 a.m. Wednesday in a news conference at Philips Arena.
“We are thrilled to have Mike as the next coach of the Atlanta Hawks,” general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. “He has an incredible basketball acumen and has a keen awareness of the league and what it takes to be successful. His experience and four championships over the last 17 years provide a tremendous foundation for his leadership of our team.”
Budenholzer, 43, replaces Larry Drew, who will not have his contract renewed after serving as the team’s head coach the past three seasons. Drew is under contract until June 30. Ferry, who inherited Drew as head coach when he was hired as general manager, conducted a head coach search following the team’s season-ending playoff loss to the Pacers. Ferry granted Drew permission to interview for other vacant positions. He is a finalist for the head position with the Bucks and will interview for a second time Wednesday. When reached Tuesday, Drew offered no immediate comment on the decision.
“I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of the San Antonio Spurs organization for the last 19 years,” Budenholzer said in a statement. “I knew it would have to be a tremendous situation for me to leave, and clearly coming to Atlanta as the head coach of the Hawks is perfect for me. Ownership’s commitment to taking this organization to the next level and creating a unique and special culture, partnering with a general manager like Danny Ferry, who I have great respect for, and building a roster that has terrific potential because of the existing core and the ensuing flexibility presents a rare and uniquely positive opportunity.”
Ferry has a long relationship with Budenholzer, having worked for the Spurs organization on two separate occasions, including as assistant general manager before joining the Hawks.
Budenholzer (pronounced BEW-den-holzer) spent 19 seasons with the Spurs, two as the video coordinator, 17 as an assistant coach with the past five as the top assistant to Gregg Popovich. As an assistant he helped lead the Spurs to a league-best 908-438 (.675) regular-season record and four NBA championships, in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Budenholzer has served as the Spurs’ summer-league coach and as an advance scout for Team USA in the 2004 Olympics.
“I couldn’t be happier for Mike for many reasons,” Popovich said. “As anyone who’s been part of this program knows, he has been more of a co-head coach than an assistant for a long time. His knowledge of the game as well as his ability to teach and develop relationships with players are all special. I will miss him a great deal both professionally and personally and am confident that he and Danny will make a great team as the future unfolds.”
Most of Drew’s assistants, including Lester Conner and Bob Bender, likely will not have their contracts renewed after they expire June 30. Player-development coach Kenny Atkinson and strength-and-conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson could return, having been hired by Ferry.
“I’m excited because he comes from a championship organization,” Hawks guard Jeff Teague said. “I liked coach Drew a lot. He took me under his wing, and I learned a lot from him. This is a business. He’s excited to move on. I’m excited to work with a coach who has worked with one of the best point guards in the league in Tony Parker, who is having a phenomenal year.”
According to the Hawks, Budenholzer is a 1993 graduate of Pomona College, where he was a four-year letterman in basketball and golf. He played professionally in Denmark, where he got his start in coaching. He is a native of Holbrook, Ariz., and has a wife and four children.
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