Gregg Popovich, the 77-year-old coaching icon, married Mary Barth Budenholzer last week, and the news has sent shockwaves through the basketball world. Why? Because she is the ex-wife of his longtime assistant coach, Mike Budenholzer. TMZ broke the story on Wednesday, confirming the marriage took place on September 16 in Texas, with a Bexar County marriage license making it official. This is not just any marriage; it is a plot twist straight out of a sports drama, given the deep history between Popovich and Budenholzer.
A Coaching Dynasty and a Complex History
Popovich and Mike Budenholzer literally spent nearly two decades together on the San Antonio Spurs sidelines, a run that included four NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007. That is a huge chunk of Pop’s legendary career! Budenholzer then left the Spurs in 2013, a year before the franchise snagged its last NBA title in 2014. After his departure, Budenholzer went on to coach the Atlanta Hawks, the Bucks, and the Suns, but he actually did not coach in the NBA during the 2025-26 season. Mary Barth and Mike Budenholzer reportedly divorced back in 2016, setting the stage for this truly unexpected development years later.
Popovich’s Post-Coaching Life
This marriage comes after Popovich wrapped up his incredible 29-season coaching career in 2025, retiring as the NBA’s all-time wins leader. The league even adjusted his final career coaching record to 1,390-824, removing the 77 games he missed during the 2024-25 season. During that time, the Spurs’ 32-45 record was credited to interim coach Mitch Johnson, who later took over permanently. Since retirement, Popovich has been serving as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations. So while he is off the bench, he is clearly still making moves, both on and off the court. What a story!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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