Atlanta Hawks News 2015: Coach Budenholzer Returns after One Game Absence
After reports that his wife had an undisclosed medical emergency, Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer missed the Friday night game against the Boston Celtics, wherein his team lost 106-93. Top assistant Kenny Atkinson took his place.
The Hawks are currently at 8-3, and the good news is that they have a chance to go up the standings with the head coach's return.
Budenholzer didn't want to discuss, at least publicly, the condition or health status of his wife, Mary Beth. Before the game against Utah, he told reporters how appreciative he is for the support from everybody. "The support from the players and the staff and everybody has been great," he said.
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He's also feeling the love from his players upon his return on Sunday. Starting small forward Kent Bazemore talked about his coach after the one game absence, "It's huge for us. Being out there on the floor is kind of our sanctuary. For him to get away from whatever is going on will be huge."
Incidentally, the Utah Jazz, their opponents Sunday, are coached by a former assistant of Budenholzer during his first year with Atlanta after coming over from the San Antonio Spurs. Quin Snyder was hired by Budenholzer that year. Snyder said, "He is a great friend and I support him any way possible."
Aside from retaining his duty as head coach, Budenholzer also resumed his role as the franchise's president of basketball operations.
Before joining the Hawks, the 46-year-old American coach spent 18 years as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. But before becoming an assistant to Gregg Popovich, he started as a video coordinator in the first two years in San Antonio.
His breakout season happened last year, when the Hawks reached 60 wins, good for 2nd overall in the league. He also won the Coach of the Year award while guiding the team to the Eastern Conference finals, the first time in the franchise's history.
