Gregg Popovich stands down as San Antonio Spurs head coach after 29 NBA seasonsTopic:Basketball34m ago34 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 9:53pmGregg Popovich began coaching the Spurs during the 1996/97 NBA season. (Getty Images: Michael Gonzales)In short:Gregg Popovich has stood down as San Antonio coach after a decorated career.He began coaching the Spurs in the 1996/97 season and went on to win five NBA championships.What's next?Popovich will move into the role of Spurs' president of basketball operations.abc.net.au/news/nba-gregg-popovich-stands-down-as-san-antinio-spurs-coach/105246984Link copiedShareShare articleGregg Popovich has retired as San Antonio Spurs coach, ending a 29-run that saw him lead the team to five NBA championships.Popovich will become the Spurs' president of basketball operations.The 76-year-old, who has the most wins by any coach in NBA history, suffered a mild stroke last November and did not return during the remainder of the season."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."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 organisation, community and city that are so meaningful to me."Popovich is a three-time NBA coach of the year and directed the US men's team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2023.Popovich first joined the Spurs in 1988 as an assistant coach, a role he held for four seasons, before taking a job with Golden State Warriors for two seasons.Popovich (second from left) won his first NBA championship as coach in the 1998/1999 season. (Getty Images: Fernando Medina)In 1994, Popovich returned to the Spurs as the team's general manager and vice-president of basketball operations.Following a poor start to the 1996/97 NBA season, Popovich took over the head coaching role after firing Bob Hill.He turned the Spurs into one of the NBA's most successful franchises, winning five titles between 1999 and 2014.Boomers Patty Mills and Aron Baynes were on the Spurs' roster when they won the 2013/14 championship."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."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."Mitch Johnson, who filled in for Popovich after took a leave of absence following his stroke, will take over as Spurs head coach.Reuters/ABCPosted 34m ago34 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 9:53pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)SportHynes finds his peace as wandering NRL eyes turn elsewhereJAnalysis by Jon HealyPhoto shows Dylan Brown speaks to Nicho Hynes after an NRL game.How these disabled women are changing the face of mainstream sportAnalysis by Elizabeth WrightPhoto shows A woman is running on a track, with the sun setting behind her.'What did I get wrong?': Dockers coach Longmuir left searching for answersTopic:AFLPhoto shows Justin Longmuir looks to his right during a Dockers AFL match.Why Blues 'can't go wrong' with Tedesco as State of Origin selection loomsTopic:NRLPhoto shows Victor Radley and James Tedesco embrace each other as they celebrate a try.Surfing legend Gilmore still driven to take on the worldTopic:SurfingPhoto shows Female surfer speaking to media, smiling, prior to a surfing eventTop StoriesAlbanese 'not surprised' he was targeted by Russian criminalsLIVEPhoto shows Anthony Albanese speaking in a sports stadium. 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