Tag: Mike Budenholzer

Newman to remain on Spurs bench

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

Spurs assistant coach Don Newman removed his name from consideration for a position as defensive coordinator for the Phoenix Suns and will remain on Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff.

Saying he was pleased that Newman would continue his tenure with the club, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed Newman’s decision.

Only Mike Budenholzer has been on Popovich’s coaching staff longer than Newman. One of the most popular figures in the basketball organization, he has focused on coaching defense since being hired on June 28, 2004.

A former head coach at both Sacramento State and Arizona State before taking a job as an assistant on George Karl’s coaching staff in Milwaukee, Newman also played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League.

Warriors to talk to Spurs assistant

Though he insisted one month ago that he prefers to remain on coach Gregg Popovich’s staff, it appears Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer will interview with the Golden State Warriors about their head coach position.

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed Tuesday the Warriors had sought and been given permission to speak to Budenholzer about the job vacated when Keith Smart was dismissed after the regular season.

A report in the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times indicated that the Warriors’ new owner, Joe Lacob, will travel today to San Antonio to meet with Budenholzer, a member of Popovich’s staff for 15 seasons.

Budenholzer’s name first surfaced after Smart was fired in late April. Before Game 6 of the Spurs’ first-round series against the Grizzlies, he said he was flattered but would remain with the Spurs.

“That could change at some time,” he said then, “but for the foreseeable future, that’s how I feel, and that’s how I’ve felt for the last little while.”

Since then, Lacob hired former Lakers and Grizzlies general manager Jerry West to be part of his basketball operations department, a possible factor in Budenholzer’s change of heart about interviewing for the job.

Former OU coach Sampson set for Rockets’ interview

Former Oklahoma coach and current Milwaukee assistant Kelvin Sampson is set to interview with Houston general manager Daryl Morey about the vacant Rockets’ head coaching job.  

The Houston Chronicle reported that to become one of the first to interview for the vacant job, created last week when Rick Adelman’s contract was not renewed.

Among those  who will be interviewed on Wednesday by Morey include former Rockets assistant coach Jack Sikma and former Spurs and Rockets player and assistant coach Mario Elie.

Former Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, a former Rockets player who still lives in Katy, is expected to meet with Morey on Thursday.

The Chronicle reported that Morey has received permission to speak with several assistants whose teams still are involved in the playoffs. He is expected to try to work those interviews around the first round of playoffs.

Among the assistants that the Chronicle reports that the Rockets have interest in talking to include Spurs lead assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. Others include  Dave Joeger of Memphis, Dwayne Casey of Dallas, former New Jersey coach and current Boston lead assistant Lawrence Frank and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Dean Demopoulos.  

Another candidate the Rockets are interested in is former Cleveland head coach and Spurs assistant coach Mike Brown.