Part of today’s rumored shakeup in Atlanta includes the possibility that coach/executive Mike Budenholzer could give up his title as president of basketball operations.
Budenholzer has spent four seasons in Atlanta, improving dramatically from 38-44 in his first year to 60-22 in his second. The Hawks regressed to 48 wins last season and 43 this year, leading many to speculate that the organization might be better off with Budenholzer as a full-time coach.
It reopens the debate of whether it’s a good idea to give a head coach a role in the front office. In addition to Budenholzer, there are only four others right now who hold both titles: Doc Rivers with the Clippers, Stan Van Gundy with the Pistons, Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves and Gregg Popovich with the Spurs.
Obviously, Popovich has been very successful with his dual responsibilities, and Rivers has helped make the Clippers a perennial playoff team. Thibodeau’s first season in Minnesota was disappointing, while Van Gundy is 113-133 with just one playoff appearance in his three years in Detroit.
During a season-ending press conference today in Los Angeles, Rivers defended the idea of having one person handle both roles. There has been talk that he may be relieved of his front office duties this summer.
“It is hard, that’s why I hired [VP of basketball operations] Lawrence [Frank]“ Rivers said. “People don’t realize [Popovich] has been the president a long time. Clearly, it can be done but you’ve got to have great help. [General manager] R.C. Buford and that entire staff does. Pop really coaches the team. He’s involved. That’s the same system we’re at. I hear that it’s hard to do both. I’m doing the same thing. We’ve hired a million people. Half of them, I’m still learning their names. Lawrence is running the team in that way, but I’m still the president. I really believe more now that it’s a good way of doing it.”
Do you agree with Rivers that the coach/executive concept can work, or is it a better strategy to separate the responsibilities? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.
I think it’s all fine and dandy to be paid a lot of money to be both. But you have a profession. If you’re a good coach, be a coach. If you’re good with executive decisions then I think you should do that. I think the two should be separate but should be able to agree on the team’s focus and goals.. kind of how a VP candidate balances a president. The head coach and pres of basketball ops should balance eachother just as well