Spurs Name Mitch Johnson As Next Head Coach After Gregg Popovich's Move To Full-time Team President

For nan first clip successful astir 3 decades, personification different than Gregg Popovich will beryllium nan caput coach of nan San Antonio Spurs. 

On Friday, nan NBA franchise announced Mitch Johnson's promotion to caput coach.

The determination came soon aft it was confirmed Popovich would relinquish his caput coaching duties and modulation to nan team's full-time president of hoops operations.

Popovich has led Spurs hoops operations since 1994, balancing his executive domiciled and coaching domiciled for 29 years.

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Assistant coach Mitch Johnson and caput coach Gregg Popovich of nan San Antonio Spurs during a crippled against nan Utah Jazz March 11, 2022, astatine nan AT&T Center successful San Antonio. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

Johnson's tenure pinch the Spurs spans 9 years. He joined nan Spurs' G League connection successful Austin, Texas, successful 2016. He has been a Spurs adjunct coach since 2019. 

Johnson was besides San Antonio’s coach successful nan NBA Summer League successful 2022 and 2023. Johnson stepped successful for Popovich for 77 games during nan 2024-25 play arsenic nan five-time NBA champion recovered from what nan squad described arsenic a mild stroke.

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"While my emotion and passion for nan crippled remain, I’ve decided it’s clip to measurement distant arsenic caput coach," Popovich said successful a connection Friday afternoon. "I’m everlastingly grateful to nan awesome players, coaches, unit and fans who allowed maine to service them arsenic nan Spurs caput coach and americium excited for nan opportunity to proceed to support nan organization, organization and metropolis that are truthful meaningful to me."

San Antonio Spurs caput coach Gregg Popovich watches play against nan Utah Jazz during nan 2nd 4th astatine nan Delta Center successful Salt Lake City Oct. 31, 2024. (Rob Gray/Imagn Images)

Johnson will beryllium formally introduced Monday successful San Antonio.

"When I took nan opportunity to subordinate nan Austin Spurs complete 9 years ago, I had nary thought that opportunity was successful beforehand of me," Johnson said astatine nan extremity of nan regular season. "And, so, it’s sometimes funny really your travel takes you, and sometimes nan biggest moments tin travel from nan slightest apt spots."

San Antonio Spurs adjunct coach Mitch Johnson watches a crippled from nan sideline against nan Detroit Pistons during nan first half astatine Little Caesars Arena successful Detroit March 25, 2025. (David Reginek/Imagn Images)

"We are thrilled for Mitch Johnson to beryllium our adjacent caput coach," Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said. "Throughout his decade successful nan organization, we person seen that Mitch has nan correct values, poise and imaginable to lead america into nan future."

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Spurs prima Victor Wembanyama said erstwhile nan play ended that he had belief nan statement would do nan correct thing. 

"I spot nan statement ... and I besides spot Mitch to turn into that role," Wembanyama said. "So, I deliberation we are successful bully hands."

Johnson played astatine Stanford arsenic a four-year starter earlier playing successful nan G League and successful Europe. 

"I americium genuinely grateful and honored to person this unthinkable opportunity," Johnson said. "I americium thankful for Coach Pop, RC, Brian and Peter trusting maine to transportation connected our culture, and I committedness to springiness this work everything I person to make Spurs fans proud."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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