Budenholzer no longer coach of the Hawks

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks and coach Mike Budenholzer mutually agreed to part ways. The Hawks announced the move Wednesday night in a three-sentence statement. The decision was not totally unexpected as Budenholzer was granted permission to interview with other teams even though he is under contract with the Hawks for two more seasons. According to multiple reports, Budenholzer interviewed with the Phoenix Suns for their vacant coaching position last week before withdrawing his name from consideration. Budenholzer now may be a top candidate to coach the New York Knicks. Budenholzer was 213-192 in the regular season and 17-22 in the playoffs in five seasons with Atlanta. The Hawks were an Eastern Conference-worst 24-58 this season. Budenholzer, a longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant, was named NBA coach of the year for the 2014-15 season, when he led the Hawks to their first 60-win season, a division title and their first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals. He was promoted to president of basketball operations but then gave up that title when Travis Schlenk was hired as general manager in 2017. The Hawks’ inability to retain such top players as Al Horford and Paul Milsap led to the team’s rapid decline. The Hawks fell to the bottom of the conference while leaning heavily on rookie center John Collins, second-year forward Taurean Prince and point guard Dennis Schroder. The Hawks have scheduled a news conference with Schlenk for Thursday. Schlenk did not immediately respond to an interview request from The Associated Press.

FOOTBALL

› ATLANTA — Michael Vick’s second try for a football championship in Atlanta will come as a coach. Atlanta was announced on Wednesday as the choice to join Orlando as franchises in the new Alliance of American Football that will begin play next February. The Atlanta Alliance has hired former NFL coach Brad Childress as its head coach. Vick, the former Falcons quarterback, will serve as Childress’s offensive coordinator. “I want to bring a championship to the city of Atlanta,” Vick said. “It’s always been a dream of mine, and now I have another shot.” Atlanta is the second city to get a franchise in the league that was created by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Bill Polian and longtime TV and film producer Charlie Ebersol. The Alliance has a television deal with CBS and plans to open its first season the week after the Super Bowl. Vick, 37, was the top overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft by Atlanta and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his time with the Falcons (2001-06). His stay ended in disgrace. Vick served 18 months in prison following his guilty plea for a dogfighting operation.