Mike Budenholzer facts for kids
Budenholzer at the Milwaukee Bucks championship parade in 2021
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| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 6, 1969 Holbrook, Arizona, U.S. |
| High school | Holbrook (Holbrook, Arizona) |
| Career information | |
| College | Pomona (1988–1991, 1992–1993) |
| Pro career | 1991–1994 |
| Coaching career | 1993–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1991–1992 | Pentland |
| 1993–1994 | Vejle BK |
| As coach: | |
| 1996–2013 | San Antonio Spurs (assistant) |
| 2013–2018 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2018–2023 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2024–2025 | Phoenix Suns |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As head coach:
As assistant coach:
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Michael Vincent Budenholzer, born on August 6, 1969, is an American basketball coach. People often call him "Bud" or "Coach Bud". He has coached several teams in the NBA, which is the top basketball league in the world.
Coach Bud recently worked as the head coach for the Phoenix Suns. Before that, he led the Milwaukee Bucks for five seasons, from 2018 to 2023. During his time with the Bucks, he helped them win an NBA championship in the 2020–21 season. He also spent five seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Earlier in his career, he worked for 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach under the famous coach Gregg Popovich.
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Budenholzer's Early Basketball Days
Playing in College and Overseas
Mike Budenholzer grew up in Holbrook, Arizona. He went to Pomona College where he played both basketball and golf for four years. In 1993, he was named the best senior athlete at his college. He earned a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. In 2015, he was honored by being added to the Pomona–Pitzer Hall of Fame.
In 1991, Budenholzer played basketball for a team called Pentland in Scotland for a few months. Later, in the 1993–94 season, he played professionally in Denmark for Vejle Basketball Klub. He was a top scorer for his team, averaging 27.5 points per game. While playing, he also coached two youth teams for the club.
Budenholzer's Coaching Journey
Starting with the San Antonio Spurs
In 1994, Mike Budenholzer joined the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He started as a video coordinator, helping the team review game footage. After two years, he became an assistant coach under head coach Gregg Popovich. He was part of the coaching staff that won four NBA championships with the Spurs.
Leading the Atlanta Hawks
After many years with the Spurs, Budenholzer became the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks in 2013. In his first season, the Hawks made it to the playoffs.
In December 2014, he was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. He also coached the Eastern Conference team in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. In January 2015, he won the Coach of the Month award again. He led the Hawks to a team record of 60 wins that season. This was their best playoff run in 48 years. On April 21, 2015, he received the NBA Coach of the Year Award.
In 2015, Budenholzer also took on the role of president of basketball operations for the Hawks. This meant he had the final say in many team decisions. He left the Hawks in April 2018.
Winning with the Milwaukee Bucks
On May 17, 2018, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Budenholzer as their new head coach. In his first season, the Bucks had a great record of 60 wins and 22 losses. He was chosen to coach the East team in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. At the end of the season, he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award for the second time. He also won the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year Award.
On July 20, 2021, Coach Bud led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship. They beat the Phoenix Suns in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals. The Bucks became one of only a few teams in NBA history to win the title after losing the first two games.
In August 2021, the Bucks signed Budenholzer to a new contract. In the 2021–22 season, the Bucks finished strong again. They won their first playoff series but lost to the Boston Celtics in the next round.
In the 2022–23 season, the Bucks had the best record in the league. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. On May 4, 2023, Budenholzer was no longer the coach of the Bucks. This decision was surprising to some fans, especially because the team's star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was injured during the series.
Coaching the Phoenix Suns
On May 11, 2024, Budenholzer became the head coach for the Phoenix Suns. He signed a five-year contract. The Suns had high hopes for the 2024–25 season, starting with a good record. However, they finished the season with more losses than wins and did not make the playoffs. On April 14, 2025, Budenholzer was no longer the coach of the Suns.
Coach Bud's Record
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 2013–14 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 4th in Southeast | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost in first round |
| Atlanta | 2014–15 | 82 | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1st in Southeast | 16 | 8 | 8 | .500 | Lost in conference finals |
| Atlanta | 2015–16 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2nd in Southeast | 10 | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost in conference semifinals |
| Atlanta | 2016–17 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2nd in Southeast | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in first round |
| Atlanta | 2017–18 | 82 | 24 | 58 | .293 | 5th in Southeast | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Milwaukee | 2018–19 | 82 | 60 | 22 | .732 | 1st in Central | 15 | 10 | 5 | .667 | Lost in conference finals |
| Milwaukee | 2019–20 | 73 | 56 | 17 | .767 | 1st in Central | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | Lost in conference semifinals |
| Milwaukee | 2020–21 | 72 | 46 | 26 | .639 | 1st in Central | 23 | 16 | 7 | .696 | Won NBA championship |
| Milwaukee | 2021–22 | 82 | 51 | 31 | .622 | 1st in Central | 12 | 7 | 5 | .583 | Lost in conference semifinals |
| Milwaukee | 2022–23 | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 1st in Central | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost in first round |
| Phoenix | 2024–25 | 82 | 36 | 46 | .439 | 5th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Career | 883 | 520 | 363 | .589 | 104 | 56 | 48 | .538 | |||
Mike Budenholzer's Family Life
Mike Budenholzer is the youngest of seven children. His parents are Vince and Libby Budenholzer. His father was also a basketball coach for 25 years in Arizona. Mike has four children: William Vincent, Savoia Elizabeth, Hanna Louise, and John Bent.
See also
In Spanish: Mike Budenholzer para niños
