/wp:image
wp:image {“id”:59903}
/wp:image
wp:image {“id”:59904}
/wp:image
wp:image {“id”:59905}
/wp:image
wp:image {“id”:59907}
/wp:image
wp:image {“id”:59908}
/wp:image
wp:paragraph
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Saturday, July 7, was a night full of celebration, remembrance and reunions at the Holbrook High School Munoz Gym/Budenholzer Court dedication honoring two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer and his family. Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich welcomed alumni from over seven decades to the Munoz Gym to celebrate the unveiling of the new basketball court.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Alumni and guests cheered on wrestling, cheerleading, basketball, gymnast and football champs as they made their way down the court to their seats. Also there to honor their long-time family friends the Budenholzer’s was the Munoz family.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Koerperich opened by honoring the late Tony Munoz, who the gym was named after. During his very active 23 years in the community Munoz served as a teacher, a coach and an administrator for the Holbrook Unified School District. Apart from his work with the district, he was involved in several community organizations. The once elected “Man of the Year” had four children with wife Mercy Munoz, of which three attended Saturday’s event.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Debra Munoz Valeriani, the daughter of Tony Munoz, shared memories of the Budenholzer’s from their childhood as part of her speech. Munoz recalled times when “Mikey Bud,” as she called him, revealed his “coaching talent” by the eighth grade. Remembering that when Budenholzer played basketball, he “had more talent than a typical kid his age.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Valeriani reminisced about her father’s friendship with Mike’s father and former Holbrook High School coach Vince Budenholzer who shared a “passion for youth and sports.” She recalled the strength and leadership of Budenholzer’s mom Libby Budenholzer, once a mayor and councilwoman of Holbrook.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
In attendance with Mike, Vince and Libby were five of Mike’s six siblings and his four children, Will, Libby, Hannah and John Budenholzer. Vince and Libby spoke from the podium and expressed their appreciation for Holbrook, with the former mayor stating, “We don’t live here anymore, but Holbrook is home to our hearts.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Vince gave the Holbrook school district praise for the “great improvements” he witnessed on his tour of the Holbrook schools, also complimenting the faculty on their work. He briefly recounted his days as a faculty member and addressed the crowd saying, “Yesterday I was invited to tour the Holbrook High School, Hulet School, all of Holbrook schools. I was amazed at all of the great improvements that have occurred since I was a part of the faculty here. It was a great faculty, a great place to work and a great place to raise our family. Thanks to you for being a part of it.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
An emotional Mike shared a moment with his four kids who he called “amazing, wonderful people” expressing how “glad” he is that they got a “small glimpse” into how he grew up and was raised “and what is what like growing up in Holbrook.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The NBA’s top coach reminisced about the older kids Earl Hollins, Jesse Hollins, Randy Hatch who let him play basketball with them at Hunt Park despite him being years younger than them. “It was those guys I wanted to play with. They knocked me down, they blocked my shot, they busted my lip,” pausing briefly as the crowd erupted into laughter. Continuing, he said “I would do anything to get on the court with Earl. I would do anything to get on the court with Jesse.” Adding, “They cared about me.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mike spoke of the teachers who contributed to his success. He credited his coaches for teaching him skills he still uses today. Budenholzer shared times of when his Holbrook roots helped prepare him for his journey as an NBA coach.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach recognized many of his former coaches for their roles in his success. Crediting his Holbrook roots saying “you can’t coach in the NBA” without possessing some of the traits he learned from his coaches.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Budenholzer recognized coaches Tim Hatch and Charlie Esquibel as key influences for how he cares for and treats his players, describing Hatch’s ability to balance between hard work and fun. Holding back tears as he remembers Esquibel’s ability to communicate with his players.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
He revealed one of the two surprises he had in store for the night. “In my family’s name, we’ll make a $100,000 commitment to the future teachers and students of Holbrook High School. We believe in the people, we believe in helping as so many have done for us as we grew up in Holbrook.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mike expressed his gratitude to all volunteers and dignitaries who contributed to the event’s success. He thanked and acknowledged the Munoz family as “one of the great families of Holbrook.” Moving on Budenholzer commended Koerperich for “the passion he has for Holbrook” and “the students of Holbrook.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Budenholzer thanked his mom, Libby and then invited his dad “Coach Bud,” to join him at the podium. Pulling his 2019 NBA Coach of the Year trophy from behind the podium, Mike announced that he had recently been selected as the 2018-2019 NBA Coach of the Year and he wanted to take that moment to present it to his father. With a standing ovation, a stunned Vince raised the trophy with a joyful smile on his face.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The moment was one that brought the Budenholzer family full circle. Back to their roots, their town and the people that loved them and contributed to the success not only of Mike Budenholzer but to all those that have a dream and strive to attain it in this small rural community.
/wp:paragraph
