Gregg Popovich, the legendary coach of the San Antonio Spurs, has officially stepped down after coaching the team for nearly 30 years.
Popovich may no longer coach the team, but he isn’t leaving them for good, as he will remain the team’s president. The decision came after Popovich took a leave of absence in November due to a health-related issue after he suffered a mild stroke. In that time, he was able to reflect on his future and decided to transition into another role with the team.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” he said in a statement. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach.”
For 29 seasons, Gregg Popovich has won over 1,400 regular-season games, the most by any NBA coach, five league championships, and six appearances in the NBA Finals. He has coached legends like Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginóbili. He began his coaching career in 1996 and later drafted Duncan in 1997.
Aside from being the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Popovich was also the head coach of Team USA, which won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Spurs announced that Mitch Johnson will acquire the role of head coach. He led the team as interim head coach for 77 games during the 2024-25 season.
Peter Holt, the Spurs Chairman, spoke highly of Popovich and said, “He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader, and coach.”