Spurs Legendary Ex-Coach Gregg Popovich Marries Ex-Wife Of Assistant Coach

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recently got married to Mary Barth Budenholzer, the ex-wife of his longtime assistant coach, Mike Budenholzer.

According to a Bexar County marriage license, Popovich and his wife married on Sept.16 in Texas.

Popovich won four NBA championships with the Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007) with Budenholzer as his assistant coach. After the Spurs lost the 2013 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, Budenholzer took the head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks. 

Budenholzer spent 17 seasons on Popovich’s staff in San Antonio (1996-2013), starting as a video coordinator before becoming the lead assistant coach.

After a stint in Atlanta, Budenholzer began coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in 50 years when the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2 in 2021. Budenholzer would then coach the Phoenix Suns during the 2024-25 season. He didn’t coach in the NBA during the 2025-26 season.

Budenholzer and his ex-wife reportedly got divorced in 2016. Popovich went through his own hardships in 2018 when his wife of 42 years, Erin, passed away following a long illness.

In November 2024, Popovich suffered a mild stroke in the arena before a home game. Medical complications forced him to step away from the bench, and his assistant coach, Mitch Johnson, took over as interim head coach.

Popovich ended his legendary NBA coaching career in 2025 after 29 seasons and finished as the NBA’s all-time wins leader. Popovich missed 77 games during the 2024-25 season due to health issues; the NBA would adjust his career record after his retirement to bring his career coaching record to 1,390-824.

While Popovich was away, the team finished 32-45, with Johnson serving as interim coach and later becoming head coach.

Popovich now serves as the Spurs’ president of operations. After his retirement, the Spurs reached the NBA Finals but fell short to the New York Knicks.