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For the first time in almost three decades, someone else except Gregg Popovich will be the main coach of San Antonio Spurs.
On Friday, the NBA franchise announced the promotion of Mitch Johnson to the main coach.
The decision came shortly after it was confirmed Popovich would give up His main coaching duties and the transition to the regular president of the team basketball operations.
Popovich has been conducting Spurs’s basketball operations since 1994, balanced by his executive role and coaching role for 29 years.
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Assistant coach Mitch Johnson and Chief Coach Gregg Popovich of San Antonio Spurs during the match against Utah Jazz on March 11, 2022 at the AT&T Center in San Antony. (Michael Gonzales/Nbae via Getty Images)
Johnson’s mandate with Spurs It extends for nine years. He was joined by a branch of the Gales G league in Austin in Texas in 2016. Since 2019, he has been an auxiliary coach Spurs.
Johnson was also the coach of San Antoni in the NBA Summer League 2022 and 2023. Johnson entered Popovich for 77 games during the 2024-25 season, while the five-time NBA champion recovered from what the team was described as a slight stroke.
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“While my love and passion for the game remain, I decided it was time to deviate as the main coach,” Popovich said in a statement on Friday afternoon. “I am forever grateful to wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who have allowed me to serve them as the main coach of Spurs, and I am excited about the possibility of continuing to support the organization, the community and the city that are so significant to me.”
Chief coach San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich watches play against Utah Jazz during the second quarter at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City 31 October 2024. (Rob Gray/Imagins Images)
Johnson will be officially introduced on Monday to San Antony.
“When I took the opportunity to join Austin Spurs more than nine years ago, I had no idea that the opportunity was ahead of me,” Johnson said at the end of the regular season. “And, so, sometimes it is funny how your journey takes you, and sometimes the biggest moments can come from the least likely places.”
Auxiliary coach San Antonio Spurs Mitch Johnson watches a game on the side against Detroit’s Detroit during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on March 25, 2025. (David Reginek/Imagen Images)
“We are delighted that Mitch Johnson was our next main coach,” said Spurs’s partner Peter J. Holt. “During our decade in the organization, we have seen that Mitch has the right values, willingness and potential to lead us to the future.”
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The Spurs star Victor Wembanyama He said when the season ended that he believed the organization would do the right thing.
“I believe in the organization … and I also believe that Mitch will grow into that role,” Wembanyama said. “So, I think we are in good hands.”
Johnson played at Stanford as a four -year -old starter before playing in the G League and in Europe.
“I’m truly grateful and honored to have got this incredible opportunity,” Johnson said. “I am grateful to the coach of POP, RC, Brian and Peter who believed me to continue our culture and I promise that I would give this responsibility everything I had to do to pride the Spurs fans.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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