Atlanta Hawks Tap Spurs Assistant For New Head Coach

But everybody calls him Coach Bud.

Sitting alongside Hawks general manager Danny Ferry and flashing an occasional smile of excitement Mike Budenholzer says now is his time to be a head coach.

And the Hawks organization is the best place to start.

“You look at three things and it’s ownership, GM [general manager] and roster. And here in Atlanta, they have all three things going in a positive direction so it made it the perfect place, the perfect fit for me.”

Budenholzer has a long standing relationship with Ferry and is coming from a Spurs team that’s won four NBA championships since 1999.

He says being good starts with defense.

But Budenholzer also recognized one particular Hawks player as being key to the team.

“Al Horford is someone that I’m excited about coaching and working through, you know, exactly how we’re going to improve him in all way, shapes and forms is something I look forward to discussing with him…and sharing some of my visions and thoughts.”

Budenholzer won’t completely join the Hawks until after the Spurs current playoff run is over.

They’ve advanced to the NBA finals.