Gregg Popovich, the former head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, recently married Mary Barth Budenholzer, who is the ex-wife of his longtime assistant coach, Mike Budenholzer, according to TMZ. The couple tied the knot on September 16 in Texas, as confirmed by a Bexar County marriage license. Popovich, now 77, led the Spurs to five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) with Budenholzer serving as his assistant coach for many years. Budenholzer left the Spurs in 2013 to coach the Atlanta Hawks, and after coaching the Bucks and Suns, he did not oversee any NBA team during the 2025-26 season. He and Mary Budenholzer divorced in 2016.
Popovich concluded his remarkable 29-season coaching career in 2025, finishing as the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching wins. The league later revised his career record by removing 77 games he missed during the 2024-25 season, adjusting his final tally to 1,390 wins and 824 losses. During Popovich’s absence that season, the Spurs went 32-45 under interim coach Mitch Johnson, who eventually became the full-time head coach. Since retiring, Popovich has continued his involvement with the Spurs as the team’s president of basketball operations.
Fan Take: This news highlights the deep intertwined personal and professional relationships that shape the NBA coaching landscape. Popovich’s marriage to the ex-wife of a trusted former assistant symbolizes the close-knit nature of basketball’s coaching community and reminds fans of the legacy and impact these figures have had on the sport’s evolution.
Source: www.cbssports.com
