JUST IN: Gregg Popovich to Step Down as Coach of the San Antonio Spurs — Will Transition to Full-Time Role as Team President

Longtime San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will no longer work the sidelines, instead transitioning to a role as full-time team president.

Popovich, 76, has been the Spurs’ coach for nearly three decades. He first joined the team’s front office in 1994 before assuming the role of head coach in 1996. Popovich, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, has more than 1,400 career wins in the regular season and led the Spurs to five NBA championships.

ESPN’s Shams Charania announced the news Friday morning.

“Gregg Popovich will no longer be Head Coach of the San Antonio Spurs and is transitioning full-time to Team President, sources told ESPN,” he said in a tweet. “The iconic Popovich is a Basketball Hall of Famer, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, and led the Spurs to five championships.”

Popovich was not with the team for much of the 2024-25 season. In November, it was announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave from

the team due to a “health issue.” The team later announced the illness in question was a mild stroke.

Shortly after that news, star center Victor Wembanyama said he was not worried about Popovich and expected his coach to return soon. In February, however, he met with the team to inform them that he would not be coming back to coach for the rest of the season. Two weeks ago, Popovich had another medical scare when he reportedly fainted in a San Antonio restaurant. Although he was taken to the hospital, Popovich was alert as he was loaded into the ambulance and returned home shortly after.

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