Gregg Popovich, the legendary head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is stepping down after an extraordinary 29-season tenure, the team announced Friday.
The 76-year-old will transition into a new role as president of basketball operations within the organization.
Popovich departs the sidelines as the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, having recorded 1,422 regular-season victories.
During his tenure, he led the Spurs to five NBA championships, the most recent coming in 2014.
“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” said Popovich in a statement.
“I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue supporting the organization, community, and city that mean so much to me.”
Popovich had been absent from the bench since suffering a mild stroke in November, shortly before a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In his absence, the Spurs concluded the 2024–25 season with a 34-48 record and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson, who served as acting head coach during Popovich’s medical leave, has been appointed as his successor.
Popovich’s association with the Spurs dates back to 1988, when he joined as an assistant coach.
After a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors, he returned to San Antonio in 1996 to take over as head coach, becoming the longest-tenured active coach in any major U.S. professional sport until his retirement.
A revered figure in global basketball, Popovich also led the U.S. men’s national team to Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Following his departure, Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, 54, now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving head coach in the NBA, having led the Heat since the 2008–09 season.
