The Atlanta Hawks have hired San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer as the team’s new head coach, according to a team press release.
Budenholzer, 43, is replacing Mike Drew who was not retained at the end of the season. Budenholzer has spent the last 19 seasons in San Antonio and plans to remain with the organization through the NBA Finals, where the Spurs will face the winner of the Miami vs. Indiana series.
“We’re thrilled to have Mike as the next coach of the Atlanta Hawks,” team President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry said in the release. “He has an incredible basketball acumen and 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 takes over an Atlanta team that was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by Indiana and still finds itself struggling over what to do about free agent forward Josh Smith. Still, Budenholzer found it hard to hide his excitement.
“I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of the San Antonio Spurs organization for the last 19 years,” he said in the release. “I knew it would have to be a tremendous situation for me to leave and clearly coming to Atlanta s head coach of the Hawks is perfect for me.”
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