You’ve seen the highlights. Steve Kerr, the guy with more championship rings than fingers, coolly pacing the sidelines of the Chase Center or knocking down a clutch jumper in a Bulls jersey. But behind the scenes of one of the most storied careers in NBA history isn't just a coaching staff or a front office. It's Margot Kerr.
Honestly, the "wife of a famous coach" trope usually involves a lot of sitting courtside and nodding for the cameras. But Steve Kerr and wife Margot have a story that’s way more gritty and relatable than the polished NBA version. They aren't just a power couple; they're survivors of a transient, often chaotic lifestyle that would’ve broken most marriages.
The Blind Date That Almost Didn't Happen
It started at the University of Arizona. Basic college stuff, right? Not exactly. Steve’s teammate, Bruce "Q" Fraser—who, by the way, is still on Steve’s coaching staff today—thought these two "nerds" would hit it off.
It was a blind date.
Margot Brennan was a sophomore. Steve was a sophomore. They were both 19. At the time, Steve wasn't some global icon. He was a skinny guard trying to prove he belonged in Division I. Margot’s mom, Karen Brennan, is a poet and professor. Steve’s late father, Malcolm Kerr, was the president of the American University of Beirut. They both came from academic, intellectual backgrounds.
"I think he thought, 'These two are nerdy, they'll get along,'" Margot once told SFGate.
They did. But it wasn't an immediate jump to a suburban house with a white picket fence.
📖 Related: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
Moving 13 Times in the Early Years
If you want to test a marriage, try moving to a new city every time your husband gets traded. Between 1988 and 1993, the Kerrs were basically living out of suitcases.
- Phoenix: Steve gets drafted. Margot is working an ad agency job in LA. They do long distance.
- Cleveland: Steve gets traded. Margot quits her job, moves to Ohio, and they get married in 1990.
- Orlando: Their first son, Nick, is born. Three weeks later? Traded.
- The Marriott Life: They spent three weeks living in a single hotel room in Orlando with a newborn. Imagine that. No kitchen, just diapers and a baby who won't stop crying, while your husband is at practice.
Margot didn't just "deal" with it. She rolled with it. Steve often credits her for creating a "home" when they didn't actually have a permanent house for years. This is the part people miss. While Steve was fighting for a spot on the roster, Margot was the one managing the logistics of a family in constant flux.
The Chicago Dynasty and Stability
The mid-90s in Chicago were the "golden era." Steve was winning rings with Michael Jordan, and for the first time, the family stayed in one place for six years. This is where they raised Nick, Madeleine (Maddy), and Matthew.
It wasn't all glamour. Steve was famously the "minimalist." He hates "stuff." Margot, meanwhile, was the one who turned him on to yoga and convinced him to read Pulitzer Prize-winning novels like All the Light We Cannot See to decompress from the pressure of the NBA playoffs.
They’re a weirdly grounded couple. Even now, Steve is known to grill at home or head to a local spot like Burma Superstar in Oakland rather than some high-end, velvet-rope gala.
Steve Kerr and Wife: A Partnership of Philanthropy
You might have seen the headlines recently about the $1 million gift. In late 2025, Steve and Margot committed $1 million to the University of Arizona’s College of Humanities.
👉 See also: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
Why the humanities?
Because they both believe that understanding the world—traveling, reading, experiencing other cultures—is what actually makes you a better human. Steve has been an honorary professor there, guest lecturing on how a liberal arts education actually helped him manage the egos of superstars like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Championing the "Berkeley Family"
When their daughter Maddy went to UC Berkeley to play volleyball, the Kerrs didn't just attend games. They leaned into the community. They’ve been huge supporters of the African American Initiative at Cal, focusing on scholarship programs for first-generation students.
They aren't just writing checks. They’re involved. Margot has been described as the "Zen" influence in Steve's life. When he was suffering from debilitating back pain following surgery in 2015—pain so bad he had to step away from coaching—it was Margot who kept the household steady.
What the Kerr Kids are Doing Now
One of the coolest things about Steve Kerr and wife Margot is how their kids turned out. They didn't just become "nepo babies" hanging out on yachts.
- Nick Kerr: He’s following the family business. He’s currently the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors.
- Maddy Kerr: A former standout volleyball player at Cal, she’s now a corporate lawyer.
- Matthew Kerr: The self-proclaimed "non-athlete" of the group. He actually worked as a writing assistant on the show Ted Lasso. How perfect is that?
Margot joked in an interview with In My Court that they "hit the lottery" with their kids. But if you look at the stability she provided while Steve was chasing championships, it wasn't luck. It was work.
✨ Don't miss: Huskers vs Michigan State: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big Ten Rivalry
The Reality of Being "The Coach's Wife"
Being married to a high-profile coach isn't just about the wins. It’s about the losses, the death threats on social media, and the months of travel.
Margot has stayed remarkably private. She doesn't have a reality show. She doesn't have a brand she's trying to sell you. She’s just... there. Steve has called her his "foundation." In a world as volatile as professional sports, having someone who knew you when you were a "nerdy" 19-year-old on a blind date is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Actionable Insights for Longevity
If there is a "secret sauce" to the 35-year marriage of Steve and Margot Kerr, it’s probably these three things:
- Shared Intellectual Interests: They both value education and reading. This gives them a world outside of basketball to retreat to.
- Adaptability: They survived the "Marriott phase" of their lives by focusing on the family unit rather than the location.
- Low Ego: Despite the fame, they’ve maintained a minimalist, low-key lifestyle in the Bay Area.
Next time you see Steve Kerr on the sidelines, remember that the "Zen" he’s famous for probably started at home, likely sparked by a yoga session or a book recommendation from Margot. They’ve built a legacy that’s about way more than just basketball trophies.
To understand the full scope of their impact, look at the Kerr Family Endowment at the University of Arizona, which is now funding study abroad programs for students who otherwise couldn't afford to see the world. That’s the real championship.