Gregg Popovich, the legendary coach and Hall of Famer, is stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs to become the president of basketball operations. Mitch Johnson, who served as acting head coach following Popovich’s mild stroke in November, will take over permanently. Despite his desire to coach again, Popovich acknowledged the toll the role takes on him and expressed gratitude towards the players and fans he served. Over his tenure, he led the Spurs to five NBA championships and is the league’s all-time leader in wins. Popovich will continue to support the Spurs in his new role.
Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich is stepping down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and will assume a full-time position as the team’s president of basketball operations, as announced by the team on Friday.
Mitch Johnson, who filled in as acting head coach after Popovich experienced a mild stroke in November, is now taking over the head coaching role permanently.
Popovich has been involved with the organization and present at San Antonio’s facility recently, and he will continue to play a crucial role in the franchise’s daily operations, sources informed ESPN. Despite his desire to return to coaching, he ultimately recognized that the demands of being an NBA head coach were too much. Sources added that he is recovering steadily from the stroke.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich stated. “I am forever thankful to the amazing players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve as the Spurs head coach and look forward to supporting the organization, community, and city that mean so much to me.”
Johnson, who recorded a 31-45 mark with the Spurs in Popovich’s absence, has spent the past ten years as an assistant within the Spurs organization. Following a distinguished collegiate career at Stanford, he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s G League affiliate and went on to have a three-year professional career in the G League and overseas. He joined the Spurs as an assistant coach for the Austin G League team in 2016.
By selecting Johnson as the new head coach, the Spurs ensure the continuity and vision established by Popovich, CEO RC Buford, and general manager Brian Wright, who was hired during the same 2016 offseason as Johnson. Throughout, the Spurs leadership had been evaluating Johnson, who garnered considerable support from top franchise officials and players.
“I am extremely grateful and honored to receive this incredible opportunity,” Johnson said in the team’s statement. “I am thankful to Coach Pop, RC, Brian, and [managing partner Peter J. Holt] for trusting me to continue our culture, and I commit to giving this responsibility everything I have to make Spurs fans proud.”
Popovich, 76, embarked on his journey with the Spurs as an assistant coach under Larry Brown in 1988, serving four years before a brief period under Don Nelson with the Golden State Warriors. He entered San Antonio’s front office in 1994 and became head coach in December 1996, after he fired Bob Hill following a 3-15 start as general manager. After San Antonio missed the playoffs that season and secured the No. 1 pick by selecting Tim Duncan, Popovich guided the Spurs to 22 consecutive playoff seasons from 1998 to 2019, achieving at least 50 wins in 18 consecutive seasons.
The legendary coach holds the record for the most career wins in the NBA with 1,422 regular-season victories and led the team to five NBA championships. He is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, tied with Nelson and Pat Riley for the most in league history. Additionally, he ranks third in career playoff wins among coaches and is one of only five coaches to capture at least five titles, sharing this honor with Phil Jackson (11), Red Auerbach (nine), John Kundla (five), and Riley (five).
Popovich is celebrated as a cornerstone of the Spurs franchise, collaborating with Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard during a dynasty era that produced championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
With the Spurs selecting Victor Wembanyama with the top overall pick in the 2023 draft, Popovich appeared poised to coach another superstar. Wembanyama took to social media to express gratitude towards his coach.
29 years.
Coach, thank you for your wisdom, for your leadership, for the culture you created…
But most importantly for being a great and inspiring person.
It was an honor to be a part of those 29 years🙏🏽 Wishing you the best on your new chapter.
🐐
— Wemby (@wemby) May 2, 2025
Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who spent seven seasons as an assistant to Popovich in San Antonio, commended his influence on her coaching career.
“He’s a huge reason why I have this job,” Hammon stated on Friday.
“Different leaders have various styles, but what always amazed me about Pop was how effectively he led,” Hammon remarked. “He consistently maximized the potential of his roster, no matter its composition.”
Popovich had an emotional meeting with Spurs players on February 27, during which he expressed that he would not return this season but hoped to in the future. Following a medical incident at a San Antonio restaurant on April 15, he was hospitalized but returned home within days and was reportedly feeling much better.
As the oldest coach in NBA history, Popovich signed a five-year contract extension with the team in 2023. He also served as head coach for the United States men’s national basketball team during the 2019 FIBA World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics, leading the U.S. to its fourth consecutive gold medal.
With Popovich stepping down as coach, the title of longest-tenured active NBA head coach now belongs to Erik Spoelstra, head of the Miami Heat since the 2008-09 season. Spoelstra and Popovich faced off in consecutive NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014, each winning once. The next longest-tenured coach is Steve Kerr, who clinched the last two of his five championships as a player under Popovich before embarking on a successful coaching journey with the Warriors in 2014.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.