Atlanta Hawks' Mike Budenholzer named 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year

Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer

After announcing the 2014-15 KIA NBA Sixth Man of the Year yesterday, the NBA named today Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks’ as this season’s Coach of the Year and the receipent of the Red Auerbach trophy. Finishing the season with a record of 60-22, Budenholzer led the team to a franchise record number of wins, 3 more than the previous high of 57 that was set in 1986-87 and matched again in 1993-94.

The voting for the award was done from among 130 sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada. Each writer or broadcaster is asked to name the coaches for first, second and third places. First point votes are given 5 points, second place votes 3 points and third place votes 1 point.

Budenholzer who totalled 513 points with 57 first place votes, was followed closely by Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr who had 471 with 56 first place votes. Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks finished third with 57 points (1 first place vote).

Hawks enjoy dominant season

The Hawks secured the top seed in the East and won the Atlantic Division for the first time since 1993-94. The 2015 NBA Playoffs are the Hawks’ eight consecutive trip to the post-season, the longest active streak in the East. In their first 10 games, Atlanta was mediocre winning the same number as they had lost. However from then on for the next 38 games they won 35, which included a franchise record and league-best (this season) 19 game winning streak.

The 19 game winning streak helped the team win all their games in January to have the league’s first ever perfect month (17-0). That prompted the league to name all the starters of the Hawks in January’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month. The team also made it’s presence felt at the All-Star Weekend, with Budenholzer being named the coach of the East All-Stars and a record four players (four of the five starters) being named as reserves in the East All-Star team.