The NBA's San Antonio Spurs announced on Friday that Gregg
Popovich has stepped down as the team's head coach.
He will, however, transition to a full-time role
as the team's president of basketball operations. The decision
comes after the 76 year old suffered a mild stroke
last November and did not return during the remainder of
the season. A statement released by Popovich read in
part, quote, I'm forever grateful to the wonderful
players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed
me to serve them as the Spurs head coach,
and I'm excited for the opportunity to continue. To
support the organization, community and city that are so
meaningful to me, Popovich has the most wins by
any coach in NBA history. The three-time NBA Coach
of the Year led the Spurs to 5 championships and
the US men's team to a gold medal at the
Tokyo Olympics. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall
of Fame in 2023. Mitch Johnson, who served
as an acting head coach for the Spurs after Popovich
took a leave of absence following his stroke, will
take over in a permanent capacity.