Gregg Popovich stepped down as coach of the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, ending a three-decade run that saw him lead the team to five NBA championships, become the league’s all-time wins leader and earn induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said.
He will remain as team president.
Popovich, 76, missed all but five games this season after having a stroke at the team’s arena on November 2. He has not spoken publicly since, though had addressed his team at least once and released a statement in late March saying that he hoped to return to coaching.
That won’t be happening.
“I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me,” Popovich said.
Popovich’s career ends with a record of 1,422-869, which does include the 77 games — 32 wins and 45 losses — that were coached by Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson this season. He also won 170 playoff games with the Spurs, the most by any coach with any one team and the third-most overall behind only Phil Jackson’s 229 and Pat Riley’s 171.
Popovich was a three-time coach of the year, led the U.S. to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and coached six Hall of Famers in San Antonio — Ginobili, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Dominique Wilkins and Pau Gasol. He went up against 170 different coaches during his time in the NBA and there have been 303 coaching changes made in the league, including interim moves, during the Popovich era.
Johnson to be new head coach
Mitch Johnson never expected to be coach of the San Antonio Spurs, not even on an interim basis.
It’s his team going forward.
Johnson, the acting coach for the final 77 games the Spurs played this season, will be the new coach of the team after Friday’s announcement by Gregg Popovich that he is stepping down and transitioning solely into being the team’s president of basketball operations.
Popovich had the job since 1996. Johnson will be formally introduced on Monday in San Antonio.
“When I took the opportunity to join the Austin Spurs over nine years ago, I had no idea that opportunity was in front of me,” Johnson said at the end of the regular season. “And so, it’s sometimes funny how your journey takes you and sometimes the biggest moments can come from the least likely spots.”