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With the NBA Finals currently taking place, Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer hasn’t had much time to focus on his new job just yet, but his team’s latest addition will provide a wealth of experience.
On Monday, the Hawks named Quin Snyder as the first assistant coach to join Budenholzer’s staff. Snyder spent last season in Russia as an assistant with the 2012/13 VTB United League Champions, CSKA Moscow.
“The decision to leave CSKA was an extremely difficult one,” Snyder said. “Over the past year, I have been very blessed to have an opportunity to work here at CSKA. Not only have I had a chance to work in a first class organization with great tradition, but I have had a chance to work with wonderful people.”
“I am excited to join Bud’s staff with the Hawks,” Snyder added. “They are creating a system and a culture that I strongly believe in and have seen its success. I look forward to being a part of the organization and contributing to our players’ every day improvement.”
Snyder began his coaching career as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 1992-93 season, before joining Mike Krzyzewski’s staff with the Duke Blue Devils between 1993-1999. The Blue Devils went to the NCAA tournament championship round in 1994 and 1999 with another Final Four appearance in 1998.
The success at Duke earned Snyder his first head-coaching job with Missouri, where he was named Rookie Coach of the Year in 1999 and led the Tigers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, including the Elite Eight in 2002.
However, Snyder later resigned as head coach, following a NCAA investigation surrounding his ability to manage the program. The NCAA found several minor violations and Snyder chose to resign in 2006.
The Austin Toros of the NBA D-League hired Snyder as head coach soon after in 2007 and he remained there until 2010. Snyder led the Toros to the D-League Finals his first season and reached the semi-finals his final two seasons. His success earned him the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award and a chance to coach in the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game.
Following his three-year stint in the NBA D-League, Snyder went back to NBA where he was an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers under Doug Collins for the 2010-11 season. The following year, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant under Mike Brown, before making a trip to Russia.
It hasn’t been revealed whether Snyder will be Hawks’ top assistant, but according to Budenholzer, Snyder will be a great fit for the system he plans to use.
“Quin is an excellent addition to our staff,” Budenholzer said. “He has a very strong knowledge of the system that we will implement and his extensive experience will enhance the development and knowledge of our players.”
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