Hawks Pick Budenholzer to Replace Drew as Coach

Hawks Pick Budenholzer to Replace Drew as Coach

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 25: Assistant coach Mike Budenholzer of the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on April 25, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Spurs defeated the Suns 110-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Hawks have named longtime Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer as head coach.

General manager Danny Ferry called on his past experience with the Spurs to select Budenholzer (pronounced BEW-den-holzer) on Tuesday to replace Larry Drew as coach. Drew's contract expires in June following three seasons as coach.

Budenholzer spent the last 17 seasons as an assistant with the Spurts, including the last six years as the top assistant for coach Gregg Popovich.

The Hawks say Budenholzer will continue serving as the Spurs top assistant until the conclusion of the NBA finals. The Spurs completed a four-game sweep of Memphis in the Western Conference finals on Monday.

Ferry came to the Hawks last year after two years as vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs.

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Filed Under: Atlanta Hawks, Mike Budenholzer, NBA
Categories: Sports

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