Atlanta Hawks head coach arrested for DUI
By
Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol overnight and charged with driving under the influence.
A trooper stopped Budenholzer about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on 10th Street at Crescent Avenue in Midtown because the Audi A8 he was driving didn’t have the tail lights on, according to the State Patrol incident report obtained by The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“As I spoke with him, I noticed that he had bloodshot and watery eyes and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath,” Trooper Johnathon Nelms wrote in his report.
“I ashed Mr. Budenholzer how much alcohol he had and he advised that he had one glass of wine to drink prior to driving,” Nelms said.
After giving Budenholzer a field sobriety test, Nelms placed the coach under arrest.
“I requested a breath test and Mr. Budenholzer refused the breath test by giving a verbal ‘No,’” Nelms said.
A spokesman for the
Atlanta City Jail said Budenholzer, 44, was charged with DUI and a tail light violation, and was released on $1,524 bond at 3:45 a.m. Thursday.
Budenholzer, who had been the top assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, was hired by the Hawks in May to replace Larry Drew as head coach.
Budenholzer was with the Spurs for 19 seasons.
Just after 9 a.m. Thursday, the Hawks released a brief statement from president of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ferry:
“Bud made us aware of the situation last night. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time.”
