Legendary NBA coach Gregg Popovich has officially stepped down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, the franchise announced Friday. While Popovich will no longer patrol the sidelines, he will remain with the organization as team president, continuing to shape the future of a franchise he helped define.
This announcement comes after Popovich, 76, missed most of the 2024–25 NBA season following a mild stroke he suffered in November. Mitch Johnson, who served as interim coach during Popovich’s absence, has now been named the Spurs’ full-time head coach.
A Coaching Legacy Like No Other
Popovich’s tenure is nothing short of historic:
- 29 seasons as Spurs head coach (1996–2025)
- NBA-record 1,422 regular-season wins
- 5× NBA Champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- 6× NBA Finals appearances
- 3× NBA Coach of the Year
- Olympic Gold Medalist (2020, Team USA Head Coach)
He ranks third in playoff wins, trailing only Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest minds in basketball history.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said. “I’m forever grateful… and excited to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”
An Unconventional Path to Greatness
Popovich’s journey is anything but typical:
- Played at Air Force Academy, served five years of military service.
- Began coaching at Air Force and later at Pomona-Pitzer, a small D-III program.
- Became an NBA assistant, then returned to San Antonio in 1994 as general manager.
- Appointed himself head coach in 1996 — a bold move that changed Spurs history.
He famously built around Tim Duncan, drafted Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili, and created a model franchise rooted in defense, unselfishness, and global talent. All four — Pop, Duncan, Parker, and Ginóbili — are now Hall of Famers.
A Global Influence
Popovich’s international scouting acumen transformed San Antonio into a global basketball powerhouse, culminating most recently in drafting Victor Wembanyama, a French phenom considered a generational talent.
He also coached Team USA, bouncing back from a disappointing 2019 FIBA World Cup to win Olympic gold in Tokyo (2020).
A Coaching Tree Without Rival
Popovich’s coaching legacy extends across the league:
- Mike Budenholzer, Ime Udoka, Mike Brown, Will Hardy — all Pop assistants turned head coaches.
- Doc Rivers, Steve Kerr — played under Pop.
- Quin Snyder, Taylor Jenkins — rose through the Spurs’ G-League system.
More than half the league has coaching ties to Popovich in some capacity.
A New Era Begins: Mitch Johnson Takes Over
With Pop stepping aside, Mitch Johnson, 38, takes the reins. Johnson coached the Spurs throughout the 2024–25 season and has now becomes one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA. The Spurs trust his ability to lead a talented but developing roster, including Wembanyama.
Reactions
Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner): “Few people in the basketball community are as beloved and revered as Coach Pop.”
Peter Holt (Spurs Chairman): “He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader and coach… fans across the globe are grateful.”
Popovich’s decision marks the end of an era in San Antonio, but his influence will continue to shape basketball, both within the Spurs organization and across the global basketball community, for generations.
