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For the first time in almost three decades, someone who is not Gregg Popovich will be the chief coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
On Friday, the NBA franchise announced the promotion of Mitch Johnson to the chief coach.
The decision occurred shortly after it was confirmed that Popovich would resign from his chief training duties and the transition to the president of full -time basketball operations of the team.
Popovich has led the basketball operations of the Spurs since 1994, balancing their executive role and training role for 29 years.
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The assistant coach Mitch Johnson and chief coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs during a game against the Utah Jazz on March 11, 2022, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE through Getty Images)
Johnson’s mandate with the Spurs covers nine years. He joined the subsidiary of the Spurs G league in Austin, Texas, in 2016. He has been an assistant coach of the Spurs since 2019.
Johnson was also coach of San Antonio in the NBA summer league in 2022 and 2023. Johnson intervened for Popovich for 77 games during the 2024-25 season, since the five-time NBA champion recovered from what the team described as a slight blow.
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“While my love and my passion for the game remain, I have decided that it is time to get away as a chief coach,” Popovich said in a statement on Friday afternoon. “I am always grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, personal and fans who allowed me to serve as a coach of the Spurs and I am excited about the opportunity to continue supporting the organization, the community and the city that are very significant for me.”
The chief coach of the San Antonio, Gregg Popovich, the watches play against Utah jazz during the second quarter in the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on October 31, 2024. (Rob Gray/Imagn images)
Johnson will be formally introduced on Monday in San Antonio.
“When I took the opportunity to join the Austin Spurs more than nine years ago, I had no idea that the opportunity was in front of me,” Johnson said at the end of the regular season. “And, therefore, it is sometimes curious how your trip takes you, and sometimes the biggest moments can come from the less probable places.”
The assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Mitch Johnson, observes a game from the bank against the Detroit Pistons during the first half in Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on March 25, 2025. (David Reginek/Imagn images)
“We are delighted that Mitch Johnson is our next chief coach,” said Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt. “Throughout its decade in the organization, we have seen that Mitch has the correct values, balance and potential to take us to the future.”
The star of the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, said when the season ended that the organization would do the right thing.
“I trust the organization … and I also trust Mitch growing on that role,” said Wembanyama. “So, I think we are in good hands.”
Johnson played in Stanford as a four -year -old head before playing in the G League and in Europe.
“I am really grateful and honored to receive this incredible opportunity,” said Johnson. “I am grateful for the Pop coach, RC, Brian and Peter trusting me to continue our culture, and I promise to give this responsibility everything I have to make spurs fans proud.”
