Phoenix Suns officially name Mike Budenholzer head coach two days after firing Frank Vogel

The Phoenix Suns officially named Mike Budenholzer their new head coach Saturday morning, two days after announcing the firing of Frank Vogel on Thursday.

From Holbrook, Ariz., Budenholzer (pronounced BOO-den-holz-er) coached Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2020-21 NBA championship as they defeated the Suns in six games. He was fired two seasons later after signing an extension with the Bucks following that finals run though the 2024-25 season, but Budenholzer has landed back in his home state to coach the Suns.

“I am honored to be named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the team I grew up watching,” Budenholzer said in a news release. “I would like to thank Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and James Jones for the opportunity to lead this team. I’m grateful to have a talented roster of players who are ready to compete and play a style of basketball that will bring out the best in all of them, and bring them together as we compete for championships.”

The Athletic reported Friday that Budenholzer agreed to a five-year deal for $50-plus million. The two-time NBA Coach of the Year (2014-15, 2018-19) has compiled a 484-317 record in 10 regular seasons as an NBA head coach, going 56-48 in the playoffs.

This will be his third NBA team as a head coach after serving as a longtime assistant under Hall of Famer, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. He started his NBA head coaching in Atlanta in the 2013-14 season, coaching the Hawks to a 213-197 record in five seasons (2013-18).

Budenholzer then coached the Bucks for five seasons (2018-23) and compiled a 217-120 record. He coached Suns guard Grayson Allen for two seasons in Milwaukee (2021-23). The Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 playoffs as a No. 1 seed in the East.

“We’re excited to name Mike as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and bring him back to his home state of Arizona,” said Ishbia, the Suns team owner, in a news statement. “Mike has proven himself to be among the most successful head coaches in the NBA. He is the right leader to take us to the next level and reach our championship goals.”

Budenholzer was born in the northeast Arizona community of Holbrook and grew up there, attending Holbrook High School, where he played basketball. He then went on to Pomona College in California, where he played basketball and golf.

Budenholzer, 54, will be the third head coach in three seasons for the Suns. They fired Monty Williams on May 13, 2023, and named Vogel head coach on June 6, 2023. The Suns then let go of Frank Vogel on Thursday and have landed Budenholzer, the franchise’s 22nd head coach.

“Mike’s exceptional basketball acumen, championship pedigree and his standing as one of the NBA’s premier coaches will be invaluable as we compete for a championship,” said Suns general manager James Jones in a news release. “We’re confident that under his leadership our team will reach new levels of success.”

The Suns finished this past season that began with championship expectations with a 49-33 record to land the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but they were swept in the first round by the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

Phoenix was the first team eliminated from the playoffs as the franchise hadn’t been swept in a playoff series since 1999. Before Game 4 of the series in Phoenix, Vogel said he had “full support” from Ishbia and felt “very” confident he’d get a second season with the Suns, but was fired.

Vogel signed a five-year, $31-million deal last summer.

Now Budenholzer will look to become the fourth NBA coach to win NBA titles with two different franchises. Phil Jackson (Bulls, Lakers), Pat Riley (Lakers, Heat) and Alex Hannum (St. Louis Hawks, 76ers) are the only three to achieve that feat.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns name Mike Budenholzer head coach 2 days after firing Frank Vogel