The Atlanta Hawks will be looking for a new head coach just a season after hiring Travis Schlenk as the team’s general manager and head of basketball operations.
Mike Budenholzer, Schlenk and the powers that be have come to a “mutual decision” to part ways after five seasons.
The Hawks held a press conference regarding the decision on Thursday morning at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Brookhaven. Schlenk took questions from the assembled media, Budenholzer did not attend.
Budenholzer coached the Hawks for five season, four of which were accompanied by playoff appearances, with the most recent ending in his first losing season with the team. He amassed an overall record of 213-197 during his five seasons, including a 60-win season. During the postseason Budenholzer’s teams were 17-22 overall, including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On the decision to make a change Schlenk said, “Once the season ended, we started having conversations and we felt it was time for both sides to move forward.”
Budenholzer held the dual role of head coach and GM for the Hawks for the first four years of his time with the franchise. The decision to hire a new head of basketball operations and GM just so happened to coincide with the Hawks trading or neglecting to sign key players from what was a team that was on a 10-year playoff appearance string.
Schlenk said he would like to have a new head coach in place before the upcoming draft. The Hawks have six draft picks in this year’s draft including three first round picks, one of which will be on the lottery (top 14). The draft is will take place on June 21.
“You have your contingency list,” said Schlenk about looking for a new head coach. “We certainly have a list together.”
He did not give any indication of whom the Hawks have already contacted or plan to contact.
