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Gregg Popovich, the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, has announced his transition from his coaching role to the position of President of Basketball Operations, according to a statement from the team.
At the age of 76, Popovich was recently sidelined due to a mild stroke he experienced in November, which will keep him away from coaching duties for an undisclosed period.
Celebrated as the most successful and longest-serving head coach in NBA history, Popovich has the distinction of holding the longest tenure among his contemporaries. He began his journey with the Spurs in 1996, following a four-year stint as an assistant coach, and guided the team to NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
In the official statement from the Spurs:
“Today, the San Antonio Spurs have confirmed that Gregg Popovich will assume the role of president of basketball operations, stepping down as head coach. Throughout his remarkable 29-season tenure leading the Spurs, Popovich achieved an impressive 1,422 victories in the regular season, the highest in NBA history, and led the team to five NBA titles.”
Popovich expressed his sentiments, stating, “My passion for basketball is unwavering, but I believe it is the right moment for me to step down as head coach. I will always be thankful to the incredible players, coaches, staff, and fans who have allowed me to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to continuing my support for the organization, community, and city that mean so much to me.”
Since joining the Spurs as an assistant on Larry Brown’s coaching staff in the summer of 1988, Popovich has built a distinguished 37-year coaching career within the NBA. During the 1992-94 seasons, he also served as an assistant coach under Don Nelson with the Golden State Warriors, while the majority of his NBA journey has been spent with the Spurs in San Antonio.
“Coach Pop’s exceptional influence on our organization, the city of San Antonio, the Spurs, and the sport of basketball is tremendous,” stated Spurs Managing Partner Peter J. Holt. “His achievements and honors barely capture the extent of his positive impact on so many lives. He stands out as an extraordinary individual, leader, and coach. Our family, along with fans around the world, deeply appreciate his remarkable 29-year tenure as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.”
Prior to his NBA career, Popovich worked for 15 seasons in college basketball, coaching as an assistant on Hank Egan’s staff at the United States Air Force Academy from 1973 to 1979, and then leading the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges as head coach from 1979 to 1988.
As head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team, he successfully guided Team USA to a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo.
