Gregg Popovich Marries Former Spurs Assistant Mike Budenholzer's Ex-Wife

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has married Mary Barth Budenholzer, the ex-wife of his longtime former assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. According to a Bexar County marriage licence obtained by TMZ, Popovich, 77, and Mary Budenholzer married on 16 September in Texas. The report of the marriage was published on 23 September.

The marriage connects Popovich with the former wife of a coach who spent nearly two decades working alongside him with the Spurs. Mike Budenholzer later left San Antonio to begin his own career as an NBA head coach.

Popovich and Mike Budenholzer's Spurs History

Mike Budenholzer spent nearly two decades with the Spurs and worked as an assistant coach under Popovich. He left San Antonio in 2013 to take a job with the Atlanta Hawks.

During Budenholzer's time on Popovich's staff, the Spurs won four NBA championships. Those titles came in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Budenholzer departed the franchise in 2013, one year before San Antonio won its next championship under Popovich in 2014.

The 2014 title therefore came after Budenholzer had left the Spurs and was no longer part of Popovich's coaching staff.

Budenholzer went on to coach the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. He did not coach in the NBA during the 2025-26 season.

Popovich's Coaching Career and Record

Popovich ended his NBA coaching career in 2025 after 29 seasons with the Spurs. He finished his coaching career as the NBA's all-time wins leader.

The NBA later adjusted Popovich's career coaching record by removing the 77 games he missed during the 2024-25 season. Following the adjustment, Popovich's final career coaching record stood at 1,390-824.

The 77 games Popovich missed were instead credited to Mitch Johnson, who took over as interim coach during his absence. The adjustment changed how those games were reflected in Popovich's career record after his retirement from coaching.

Popovich has continued to serve as the Spurs' president of basketball operations since stepping down from the coaching position. His transition to the front office followed a coaching career that lasted 29 seasons with San Antonio.

Mary Budenholzer's Connection to the Spurs

Mary Budenholzer was previously married to Mike Budenholzer. The couple reportedly divorced in 2016. Her marriage to Popovich now creates a personal connection between the former Spurs head coach and the ex-wife of one of his longest-serving assistants.

Mike Budenholzer's professional connection with Popovich dates back to his lengthy tenure with the Spurs. Their time together included four NBA championship seasons before Budenholzer left San Antonio in 2013 to pursue his first NBA head-coaching opportunity with Atlanta.

Budenholzer subsequently spent time with three NBA teams as a head coach. After Atlanta, he coached the Milwaukee Bucks and later the Phoenix Suns. His most significant achievement as a head coach came in 2021, when he led Milwaukee to an NBA championship.

For Popovich, the marriage comes after the conclusion of his coaching tenure with San Antonio. Although he is no longer on the Spurs' bench, he remains involved with the franchise as president of basketball operations.

The 16 September marriage also adds a new personal connection to the long professional history between Popovich and Budenholzer, whose nearly two decades together on the Spurs' coaching staff included four championship seasons.