SAN ANTONIO — One of the greatest coaching careers in sports history has come to an end.
Gregg Popovich is stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons, the team confirmed Friday. During his nearly three-decade run, Popovich led the Spurs to five NBA championships, became the league’s all-time wins leader (1,422 victories), and earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Popovich, 76, missed most of the 2024–25 season after suffering a stroke in November. While he hoped to return, he has ultimately decided to retire from coaching. He will remain with the franchise as team president. Assistant Mitch Johnson, who coached the final 77 games of the season, has been promoted to head coach.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said in a statement.
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Coach Pop: A Legacy of Winning
Popovich finishes his career with a 1,422–869 regular season record and 170 playoff wins. The most by any coach with one franchise. He coached legends such as Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and others, building a dynasty in San Antonio that became the gold standard for consistency and culture.
“The best there ever was,” Ginobili said of his former coach.
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More Than a Coach
Beyond the court, Popovich broke barriers by hiring Becky Hammon as the NBA’s first full-time female assistant. He also coached Team USA to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was known for his outspoken takes on social issues, politics, and leadership.
A loss in the 2013 NBA Finals crushed Popovich, whose Spurs were in position to close out the Miami Heat in six games. Lost Game 6 in overtime after Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation kept the Heat alive. Then fell in Game 7. But in the moments after the final horn, as Miami coach Erik Spoelstra embraced his staff. Popovich joined the hug with a wide smile.
His disciplined, military-influenced style (he’s a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate) never overshadowed his compassion. Teammates and players, including Chris Paul, recalled seeing Popovich committed to rehab after his stroke, still showing up at the arena each day.
“To see how hard he works, that’s what I’m glad I got to witness,” Paul said.
A Coaching Tenure Like No Other
Popovich’s 29 seasons with the Spurs are among the longest in North American pro sports history, rivaling legends like Tom Landry and John McGraw. His influence has shaped generations of coaches, players, and executives across the league.
Though he won’t be pacing the sidelines anymore, Popovich’s impact on the game — and the culture surrounding it — will be felt for decades.
Thank you, Coach Pop.
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