Gregg Popovich married Mary Barth Budenholzer in Texas on September 16, according to a marriage license filed in Bexar County. The wedding gives the former San Antonio Spurs head coach another ring, although this one will not require a championship parade.
Mary was previously married to Mike Budenholzer, Popovich’s longtime assistant in San Antonio. Budenholzer worked under Popovich from 1996 until 2013, helping the Spurs build the system that produced five NBA championships during Popovich’s tenure.
Budenholzer later left San Antonio to become head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He and Mary quietly divorced in 2016.
How their personal histories overlap
Popovich was married to Erin Popovich until her death in 2018 following what was described as a severe, undisclosed illness. It is not publicly known when he and Mary began dating, but the pair attended Spurs games together during the 2025-26 season.
Their marriage license confirms that they exchanged vows eight years after Erin’s death and roughly a decade after Mary’s divorce from Budenholzer.
Mike Budenholzer has also entered a new relationship, according to the report. The San Antonio Spurs declined to comment on Popovich’s marriage, apparently deciding that personnel statements do not need to cover the former coach’s wedding arrangements.
Popovich stepped away from coaching after nearly three decades leading the Spurs, a career that included five NBA titles and made him one of the most successful coaches in league history. His long professional relationship with Budenholzer adds an unusual layer to the marriage, but the timeline is straightforward: the Budenholzers divorced in 2016, Erin Popovich died in 2018, and Popovich and Mary married in 2026.
