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Coach Bud and The Atlanta Hawks Part Ways, Who Replaces Him?

By Jordan Jackson

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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A shockwave was sent through The NBA, as the Atlanta Hawks and Mike Budenholzer, affectionately known as “Coach Bud”, have mutually agreed to part ways. This comes on the heels of him being granted permission, to meet with the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, about their team’s coaching vacancies. The multi-million dollar question is, who will be Coach Bud’s replacement?

Mike Budenholzer’s 5-year tenure as Atlanta Hawks head coach came to an abrupt end today, as he and the Hawks both agreed to move on from each other. This move isn’t a total surprise after coach Bud met with the Suns and Knicks, about their Coaching positions. He later withdrew from consideration for the Suns’ job, as SI.com’s Jenna West documented here.

Chris Guest wrote about the Knicks’ current pursuit of Coach Bud on our sister site Soaring Down South. What is surprising, is the fact that the Hawks agreed to freely let Coach Bud out of his contract. The team was previously expected to receive some form of draft compensation, from any organization that desired the services of the coach who lead The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club, to their best season in franchise history.

Mike Budenholzer has also been rumored to be a candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks’ job. The Bucks won’t conduct a search until after their post-season ends.The New York Post had previously reported that Coach Bud had his eyes on other jobs due to the fact that the Hawks are rebuilding, and he couldn’t stomach losing. Other rumors have said that Coach Budenholzer was never happy about being demoted from his Team President role. It was a role in which he had final say over basketball decisions.

However, most General Managers ultimately want to hire their own coach, rather than retain a coach from the previous regime. I’m sure Hawks GM Travis Schlenk is no different. ESPN’s NBA expert Adrian Wojnarowski, who 1st broke the news, spoke with Coach Bud who gave this statement:

Budenholzer told ESPN the news and the terms of the split were finalized Wednesday.

"“I am grateful for the five years that I spent as coach of the Atlanta Hawks, and will always cherish the incredible contributions, commitment and accomplishments of the players that I was fortunate enough to work with here,” Budenholzer told ESPN. “From ownership to management, support staff to the community, I’ll look back with great pride on what we were able to achieve together with the Hawks.”"

Possible Replacements

Wojnarowski also named some possible replacements the Atlanta Hawks will take a look at for Coach Bud in the tweet below:

I am certain we will hear many more names emerge as potential candidates to be the next Atlanta Hawks Head Coach in the coming days. I’m just as certain, I will see Hawks Fans clamoring for familiar names across social media. Coaches like former Warriors’ Coach Mark Jackson, Current Clipper’s Head Coach, and former Hawk, Glenn Doc Rivers, and former Hawk, and current G-League Coach Jerry Stackhouse, are names that will be widely discussed on message boards and in Facebook groups. I have a different idea.

My Choice for The Next Atlanta Hawks Coach

If I were in the shoes of Atlanta Hawks’ GM Travis Schlenk, I would search for a young, 1st time Head Coach. A coach who can grow with, and develop this young and changing roster. I would also love to have a Coach that has Golden State Warriors’ ties.

The Golden State offense would be a perfect fit for the Hawks players like Taurean Prince, John Collins, and Kent Bazemore. Mike Budenholzer’s offense stressed ball movement, much like the GSW offense. The best man for the job, in my opinion, is Golden State Warriors Assistant Jarron Collins.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Jarron Collins attends the 2014 GLAAD San Francisco Gala at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square on September 13, 2014, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Trisha Leeper/Getty Images for GLAAD)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Jarron Collins attends the 2014 GLAAD San Francisco Gala at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square on September 13, 2014, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Trisha Leeper/Getty Images for GLAAD) /

Jarron Collins is the brother of former Atlanta Hawks’ backup Canter Jason Collins. He has been a member of the Golden State Warriors coaching staff since the 2014-15 season when Steve Kerr took over as Head Coach. Coach Collins is tied with 70-year-old Ron Adams, as the longest-tenured Warriors’ Assistant. He’s been a member of 2 NBA Championship coaching staffs in his 3+ seasons with Golden State. It would be a huge bonus if he could convince Adams to come with him. Coach Adams has been coaching for nearly 50 years. He is known as a wonderful developer of talent.

Coach Bud was one of the most successful Coaches The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has ever employed. Coach and his “bitter beer face” will surely be missed on the sidelines.

Yet, it’s time for The Hawks, and Coach Bud, to move on to the next chapter. The man to lead us into that chapter is Jarron Collins. Sure, Collins has never been a head coach. Coach Budenholzer had never been a Head Coach either, but He worked out pretty well for the Hawks. Collins doesn’t have the experience Budenholzer has coming from San Antonio. Yet he makes up for a lot of that with a 10-year playing career. It’s a risk, but a risk worth taking. Things will continue to get more and more exciting as the off-season unfolds. Stay tuned to All Atlanta Sports and FanSided.Com for all the latest news.

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