Legendary Coach Gregg Popovich to Transition to New Role

Gregg Popovich steps down as San Antonio Spurs head coach after 29 seasons, transitioning to president of basketball operations.

Gregg Popovich is stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons, the team announced. Popovich, 76, will transition into a new role as president of basketball operations.

“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, expressing gratitude to players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed him to serve as the Spurs' head coach. He leaves behind an impressive legacy, including five NBA championships and 1,422 regular-season wins.

Popovich is a highly revered figure in basketball, with a record 1,422 regular-season wins and five NBA championships won during his tenure with San Antonio. He began his Spurs journey as an assistant coach in 1988 and has spent 37 years in the league as a coach and executive, with the exception of two seasons as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors.

Popovich's achievements extend beyond the NBA, as he also led the United States to a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His dedication and commitment to the Spurs organization are unparalleled, having spent the majority of his career with the team.

“Coach Pop's extraordinary impact on our family, San Antonio, the Spurs and the game of basketball is profound,” Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said in a statement. “His accolades and awards don't do justice to the impact he has had on so many people.

“He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader and coach. Our entire family, alongside fans from across the globe, are grateful for his remarkable 29-year run as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.”

Breaking: Gregg Popovich will no longer be head coach of the Spurs and is transitioning full-time to team president, sources told @ShamsCharania.

He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and winner of five NBA titles. pic.twitter.com/fN61eNgfIF

— ESPN (@espn) May 2, 2025

Popovich's departure comes six months after he suffered a stroke in November, which led to interim coach Mitch Johnson taking over the team. Johnson is expected to be named the full-time replacement. The Spurs currently have a 6% chance of getting the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.

“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.”

Speculation about Popovich's future as Spurs head coach intensified after he suffered a mild stroke in November, which forced him to step away from coaching for the remainder of the regular season. Uncertainty surrounding his health grew further last month when he was hospitalized following a “medical incident” at a restaurant, described as a non-life-threatening condition.

Popovich announced in February that he would not coach the Spurs for the rest of the season, focusing on his health with hopes of returning to coaching in the future. He will be succeeded as head coach by Mitch Johnson, who took over interim duties after Popovich's stroke and will now assume the role permanently.