Gregg Popovich

{{Short description|American basketball executive and coach (born 1949)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Gregg Popovich

| image = Gregg Popovich speaks at the White House 2015-01-12 (cropped).jpg

| width =

| caption = Popovich speaking at the White House in 2015

| team = San Antonio Spurs

| position = President of basketball operations

| league = NBA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|1|28}}

| birth_place = East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb =

| high_school = Merrillville (Merrillville, Indiana)

| college = Air Force (1966–1970)

| career_position = Guard

| coach_start = 1973

| coach_end = 2025

| cyears1 = 1973–1979

| cteam1 = Air Force (assistant)

| cyears2 = 1979–1986

| cteam2 = Pomona-Pitzer

| cyears3 = 1986–1987

| cteam3 = Kansas (assistant)

| cyears4 = 1987–1988

| cteam4 = Pomona-Pitzer

| cyears5 = {{nbay|1988|start}}–{{nbay|1991|end}}

| cteam5 = San Antonio Spurs (assistant)

| cyears6 = {{nbay|1991|end}}–{{nbay|1993|end}}

| cteam6 = Golden State Warriors (assistant)

| cyears7 = {{nbay|1996|start}}–{{nbay|2024|end}}

| cteam7 = San Antonio Spurs

| highlights = As head coach:

5× NBA champion ({{nbafy|1999}}, {{nbafy|2003}}, {{nbafy|2005}}, {{nbafy|2007}}, {{nbafy|2014}})
3× NBA Coach of the Year ({{nbay|2002|end}}, {{nbay|2011|end}}, {{nbay|2013|end}})
4× NBA All-Star Game head coach ({{nasg|2005}}, {{nasg|2011}}, {{nasg|2013}}, {{nasg|2016}})
3× SCIAC champion (1980–1982)
Top 15 Coaches in NBA History

| cstats_league1 = NBA

| cwin1 = 1,422

| closs1 = 869

| HOF_coach = gregg-popovich

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry| the {{USA}}}}

{{MedalSport|Head coach for the {{USA}}}}

{{MedalSport|Assistant coach for the {{USA}}}}

}}

Gregg Charles Popovich (born January 28, 1949){{cite book|author=John Grasso|title=Historical Dictionary of Basketball|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nZUarsZyzokC&pg=PA299|date=November 15, 2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7506-7|pages=299–}} is an American professional basketball executive and former coach who is the president for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the head coach of the Spurs for 29 seasons from 1996 to 2025, during which he won five NBA championships, and was the longest tenured active coach in the NBA as well as all other major sports leagues in the United States. He has been a member of the Spurs organization since 1994, originally as president of basketball operations and general manager, before taking over as coach in 1996. Nicknamed "Coach Pop", Popovich has the most wins of any coach in NBA history,{{cite web |date=October 23, 2015 |title=Gregg Popovich Named 2017–20 USA National Team Head Coach |url=http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/10/gregg-popovich-mnt-head-coach.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025002321/http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/10/gregg-popovich-mnt-head-coach.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2015 |access-date=February 11, 2016 |publisher=USA Basketball}}{{cite web |title=2018–19 Official NBA Guide |url=http://cdn.nba.net/assets/pdfs/2018-19-NBA-Guide-10-8.pdf#page=197 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |website=NBA.com |pages=197 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411200102/https://cdn.nba.net/assets/pdfs/2018-19-NBA-Guide-10-8.pdf#page=197 |url-status=dead }} and is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time.{{cite web |author=Wetzel, Dan| url = https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=dw-parker061507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns | title = French connection| publisher=Yahoo! Sports | date = June 14, 2007 | access-date = April 17, 2008 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.nba.com/spurs/community/Devin_Brown_Spreads_Message_To-98180-70.html | title = Devin Brown And Coach Pop Spread Message To Local Youth | work= NBA.com | date = February 1, 2004 | access-date = March 5, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080727023604/http://www.nba.com/spurs/community/Devin_Brown_Spreads_Message_To-98180-70.html | archive-date = July 27, 2008 }}

Popovich led the Spurs to a winning record in each of his first 22 full seasons as head coach, surpassing Phil Jackson for the most consecutive winning seasons in NBA history. During his tenure, the Spurs have had a winning record against every other NBA team. Popovich has been a key figure in the sustained success of the Spurs in the 1990s, the 2000s, and most of the 2010s.Multiple sources:

{{Cite web |title=The Top Ranked Pro Basketball Head Coaches of the 2000s |url=https://www.ainsworthsports.com/basketball_pro_head_coach_rankings_by_decade_2000s.htm |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=www.ainsworthsports.com}}
{{Cite web |date=2019-05-31 |title=San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich's influence is painted over the Finals |url=https://airalamo.com/2019/05/31/san-antonio-spurs-gregg-popovichs-influence-painted-finals/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Air Alamo |language=en-US}}
{{Cite web |last=Dimmitt |first=Zach |date=June 10, 2022 |title=Today in Spurs History: Big 3 Dominate, Take Game 2 of NBA Finals Over LeBron's Cavs |url=https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/san-antonio-nba-finals-tim-duncan-tony-parker-manu-ginobili-lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-gregg-popovich-mike-brown |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Fan Nation}}
{{Cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Jack |date=2020-06-01 |title=Gregg Popovich Turned His Incredible Coaching Success Into a Massive Net Worth |url=https://www.sportscasting.com/gregg-popovich-turned-his-incredible-coaching-success-into-a-massive-net-worth/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Sportscasting {{!}} Pure Sports |language=en-US}}
{{Cite web |last=Wolkenbrod |first=Rob |title=Spurs' Gregg Popovich Takes Another Leap Into Greatness |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwolkenbrod/2018/12/12/spurs-gregg-popovich-takes-another-leap-into-greatness/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Forbes|language=en}}
{{Cite web |last=Roberson |first=Lance |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich Named Among 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists |url=https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/san-antonio-spurs-gregg-popovich-hall-of-fame-announcement |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Fan Nation}} Popovich has led the Spurs to all five of their NBA titles, and is one of only five coaches in NBA history to have won five titles. He was also the head coach of the U.S. national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics, leading the team to a gold medal. In 2023, Popovich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-headline-naismith-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023|title=Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade headline Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2023|website=NBA.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 1, 2023|accessdate=April 1, 2023}}

After 29 seasons as head coach of the Spurs, Popovich stepped down in 2025 and transitioned into a front office role as the team's president of basketball operations.

Early life

Popovich was born on January 28, 1949, in East Chicago, Indiana, to a Serbian father and Croatian mother.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-popovich061007 |title='Pop' art|author=Wojnarowski, Adrian |publisher=Yahoo! Sports|date=June 10, 2007|quote=Sometimes, you get the idea that Popovich is fighting a war within himself. "He's even got the Serbo-Croatian conflict going on", Buford said. "His mother was Croatian and his father was Serbian. That's the battle he faces internally."}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/sports/basketball/san-antonio-spurs-put-on-a-clinic-in-several-languages.html|title=The Spurs Speak Out, in Different Languages|work=The New York Times |date=June 11, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2018|via=NYTimes.com|quote=...born in East Chicago, Ind., to a Serbian father and Croatian mother, ... |last1=Araton |first1=Harvey }}{{cite news | last=McDonald | first=Jeff | title=Popovich's steel roots built solid foundation for NBA success | website=San Antonio Express-News | date=2014-10-27 | url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Popovich-s-steel-roots-built-solid-foundation-for-5848359.php | access-date=2023-06-16 | page=}} He graduated from Merrillville High School in 1966.

College career

Popovich attended the United States Air Force Academy. He played on the academy's Air Force Falcons men's basketball team, and in his senior year was the team's captain and leading scorer.{{cite book|author=David L. Porter|title=Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDO3sdV6ytsC&pg=PA380|year=2005|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-30952-6|pages=380–}} He graduated from the Academy in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in Soviet studies. Popovich underwent Air Force intelligence training and briefly considered a career with the Central Intelligence Agency.{{Cite news|url=http://deadspin.com/gregg-popovich-expresses-support-for-the-womens-march-1791476992|title=Gregg Popovich Expresses Support For The Women's March, Again Criticizes Donald Trump|last=Draper|first=Kevin|date=January 21, 2017|work=Deadspin|access-date=March 22, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogergroves/2014/06/16/what-we-should-know-about-greg-popovich-before-he-coached-the-spurs/|title=What We Should Know About Gregg Popovich Before He Coached The Spurs|work=Forbes|access-date=May 4, 2019|quote=He considered other jobs, such as the CIA.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/14/gregg-popovich-doubles-down-on-trump-criticism-some-days-i-feel-like-weve-been-invaded|title=Gregg Popovich doubles down on Trump criticism: 'Some days, I feel like we've been invaded'|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 4, 2019|quote=Popovich, whose degree is in Soviet studies, at one point considered working for the CIA.}}

Popovich served five years of required active duty in the United States Air Force, during which he toured Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union with the U.S. Armed Forces Basketball Team. In 1972, he was selected as captain of the Armed Forces Team, which won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championship.{{cite news |last1=Easterling |first1=Tom |title=Armed Forces Retains AAU Title as Marathon Runs Out of Gas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/684881237/ |access-date=15 February 2025 |work=The Lexington Leader |issue=63, Vol 84 |publisher=The Lexington Herald-Leader Company |date=March 29, 1972 |location=Lexington, Kentucky |page=17 |quote=It was a second-half rally that carried the Armed Forces to a 92-80 victory over the tiring disorganized Oilers.}} This earned the {{convert|6|ft|2|in|adj=on}} guard an invitation to the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team trials.{{cite web|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Gregg-Popovich-belonged-on-1972-Olympic-9180025.php|title=Gregg Popovich 'belonged' on 1972 Olympic basketball team|date=August 23, 2016|work=San Antonio Express-News|access-date=May 4, 2019}}

Coaching and executive career

=Pomona-Pitzer and early career (1973–1994)=

In 1973, Popovich returned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant coach under the school's head basketball coach Hank Egan. Egan later became an assistant coach under Popovich for the San Antonio Spurs. During his time as an assistant coach at the Academy, Popovich earned a master's degree in physical education and sports sciences from the University of Denver.

In 1979, Popovich was named the head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, the joint men's basketball team of Pomona College and Pitzer College in Claremont, California. Popovich coached the Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball team from 1979 to 1988, leading the team to its first outright title in 68 years.{{Cite web|title=Long before NBA titles, Spurs' Popovich says he 'fell in love' with DIII lifestyle at Pomona-Pitzer|url=https://tsl.news/gregg-popovich-san-antonio-spurs-nba-basketball-pomona-pitzer-diii-division-iii/|date=May 6, 2020|website=The Student Life|language=en-US|access-date=May 7, 2020}}

During his time as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, Popovich became a disciple and later a close friend of head coach Larry Brown at the University of Kansas. Popovich took off the 1985–86 season at Pomona-Pitzer to become a volunteer assistant at Kansas, where he could study directly under Brown. Popovich returned to Pomona-Pitzer and resumed his duties as head coach the next season.

Following the 1987–88 season, Popovich joined Brown as the lead assistant coach for the Spurs. From 1988 to 1992, Popovich was Brown's top assistant, until the entire staff, including R. C. Buford, Alvin Gentry and Ed Manning, were fired by owner Red McCombs. Popovich moved to the Golden State Warriors for a brief stint in 1992, serving as an assistant under future Hall of Famer Don Nelson and bringing with him Avery Johnson, who had been cut by the Spurs.

=San Antonio Spurs (1994–2025)=

File:Pop sitting down.JPG

In 1994, Popovich returned to San Antonio as the general manager and vice president of basketball operations after Peter Holt purchased the team. Popovich's first move was to sign Avery Johnson as the team's starting point guard. Another one of Popovich's early moves in San Antonio was to trade Dennis Rodman to the Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue.[https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/03/sports/pro-basketball-unhappy-rodman-is-dealt-from-spurs-to-the-bulls.html PRO BASKETBALL;Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt From Spurs to the Bulls]. New York Times, October 3, 1995

After the Spurs had a 3–15 start in the 1996–97 season, with David Robinson sidelined with a preseason back injury, Popovich fired coach Bob Hill on December 10, 1996, and named himself head coach.{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/revisiting-the-day-that-gregg-popovich-became-san-antonio-spurs-head-coach--with-the-man-he-had-to-push-aside-213838772.html |title=Revisiting the day that Gregg Popovich became San Antonio Spurs head coach, with the man he had to push aside |date=June 15, 2014 |first=Kelly |last=Dwyer |website=Sports.Yahoo.com |access-date=March 12, 2022}} Robinson then broke his foot after only six games and was lost for the season. Sean Elliott was also limited to 39 games due to injury, and Chuck Person missed the entire season. With a reduced roster that included an aging Dominique Wilkins, the Spurs struggled and won only 17 games for the remainder of the season for an overall record of 20–62. The Spurs' disastrous season allowed them the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, which they used to draft Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University.

The Spurs blossomed as the 6'11" Duncan teamed up with the 7'1" Robinson in a "Twin Tower" offense and defense for several years. After recovering to win 56 games in 1997–1998 (Popovich's first full year as coach), the Spurs won their first NBA title in 1999.

In 2002, Popovich relinquished his position as general manager to R. C. Buford, who had served as the team's head scout. Popovich and Buford were both given their starts in the NBA in 1988 as assistants on Brown's coaching staff with the Spurs.

Popovich has won five championships with the Spurs—1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2003, 2012, and 2014.

On April 4, 2008, Popovich returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy to receive the academy's award of Distinguished Graduate. Despite his four NBA titles at the time, Popovich said it was the most meaningful award he had ever received.{{cite web|url=http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_sports_news/x9317948 |title=Gregg Popovich honored at Air Force Academy |publisher=KOAA |date=April 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201192035/http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_sports_news/x9317948 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}

On May 2, 2012, Popovich won his second Coach of the Year Award for the 2011–12 NBA season.{{cite web|last=Official Release|title=Spurs' Popovich named Coach of the Year|website=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/2012/news/05/01/coach-of-the-year/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507222028/http://www.nba.com/2012/news/05/01/coach-of-the-year/index.html?ls=iref%3Anbahpt2|archive-date=May 7, 2012}}

File:Greg Popovich interviewed by David Aldridge Spurs-Magic.jpg]]

On November 29, 2012, Popovich sat out starters Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Danny Green for a nationally televised game against the Miami Heat. Popovich frequently sat out his starters on road trips over the years to ensure they have enough rest for the playoffs; the Spurs' roster was among the oldest in the league. NBA commissioner David Stern was outraged by this and said on the night of the game that it was "unacceptable", and "substantial sanctions [would] be forthcoming".[https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8692304/san-antonio-spurs-sit-4-top-5-scorers-vs-miami-heat David Stern: Sanctions coming]. ESPN, November 30, 2012. On November 30, Stern fined the Spurs $250,000 for what he called "a disservice to the league and the fans". According to Stern, Popovich had not informed the Heat, the league or the media in a suitable time frame that the four players were not making the trip to Miami.[https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8695865/nba-fines-san-antonio-spurs-250000-sitting-players Spurs fined $250,000 for 'disservice']. ESPN, November 30, 2012. Stern's decision was criticized by commentator Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.{{cite web|author=Adrian Wojnarowski |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--david-stern-stumbles-again-in-his-failed-culture-war-against-the-spurs-194828970.html |title=David Stern stumbles again in his failed culture war against the Spurs, fines franchise $250K |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2016}}

Popovich led the Spurs to the 2013 NBA Finals to face the Miami Heat. The series lasted seven games, but the Spurs had their first-ever Finals loss.

File:Popovich cross armed.JPG

On April 22, 2014, Popovich was awarded the Red Auerbach Trophy as he won the NBA Coach of the Year for the third time.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/22/gregg-popovich-coach-of-the-year-official-release/ |title=Spurs' Gregg Popovich named 2013–14 Coach of the Year |work=Nba.com |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508143903/http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/22/gregg-popovich-coach-of-the-year-official-release/ |archive-date=May 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }} He also won his fifth NBA championship with San Antonio that season, beating the Heat 4–1 in the Finals.

On February 9, 2015, Popovich became the ninth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games when the Spurs defeated the Indiana Pacers 95–93. He and Jerry Sloan are the only two coaches in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one franchise.

On August 1, 2015, Popovich served as Team Africa's head coach at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13359599/nba-current-former-stars-put-show-africa-exhibition |title=NBA stars, legends shine as Team World rallies to beat Team Africa |publisher=ESPN |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=October 2, 2016}}

In the 2015–16 season, Popovich led the Spurs to a franchise-high 67 wins, but he and the team lost in the conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games.

On February 4, 2017, Popovich recorded his 1,128th regular season win with one franchise, surpassing Sloan.{{cite web|title=Gregg Popovich gets NBA-record 1,128th regular season win as Spurs beat Nuggets|url=http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/02/05/gregg-popovich-gets-nba-record-1128th-win-as-spurs-beat-nuggets/|website=nbcsports.com|access-date=February 5, 2017|date=February 5, 2017}}

On April 13, 2019, Popovich surpassed Lenny Wilkens and became the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with his 1,413th win (regular season and playoffs combined).{{cite web |title=NBA Playoffs 2019: Spurs' Gregg Popovich becomes winningest coach in NBA history |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-2019-spurs-gregg-popovich-becomes-winningest-coach-in-nba-history/ |website=www.cbssports.com |date=April 14, 2019 |access-date=April 14, 2019}}

On January 26, 2020, the Spurs hosted the Toronto Raptors just hours after a California helicopter crash claimed the lives of nine people, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13–year-old daughter Gianna, and Popovich proposed that both teams take an intentional 24-second shot clock violation on each of their first possessions to pay homage to Bryant's jersey number 24, which he donned from 2006 to 2016. This violation tribute would subsequently be repeated at the beginning of nearly every game around the league over the rest of that day and the following days.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2020/01/26/kobe-bryant-honored-24-second-shot-clock-violations/41070477/|title=NBA teams pay tribute to late Kobe Bryant with 24-second and 8-second violations|work=USA Today|date=January 26, 2020}}

On March 27, 2021, after leading his team to a 120–104 victory against the Chicago Bulls, Popovich won his 1,300th regular season game and became the third NBA coach to reach the milestone.{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Michael C. |title=Gregg Popovich becomes 3rd coach in NBA history to reach 1,300 wins |url=https://www.nba.com/news/gregg-popovich-becomes-3rd-head-coach-to-reach-1300-wins |website=NBA.com |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=March 27, 2021}}

On March 11, 2022, Popovich surpassed Don Nelson for most regular season wins of all time, notching his 1,336th regular season victory with the Spurs.{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-gregg-popovich-becomes-nba-winningest-coach-of-all-time/|title=Spurs coach Gregg Popovich becomes NBA's winningest coach of all-time|work=ClutchPoints|last=Samillano|first=Gerard|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=March 11, 2022}} Popovich needed 370 fewer games than Nelson to achieve this record.{{Cite web |date= March 7, 2022 |title=Gregg Popovich breaks record for most regular season wins by a coach in NBA history |url=https://www.kens5.com/article/sports/nba/spurs/gregg-popovich-ties-record-for-most-regular-season-wins-by-a-coach-in-nba-history/273-20e4c4be-49b5-4ce3-982e-abb5c9439e2b |website=kens5.com}}

On July 8, 2023, Popovich signed a five-year contract extension, keeping him with the franchise through the 2027–28 season.{{cite web |title=Gregg Popovich signs five-year contract |url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/gregg-popovich-signs-five-year-contract |website=NBA.com |access-date=January 6, 2024 |date=July 8, 2023}}

On November 2, 2024, Popovich suffered a stroke. Two days later, it was announced that he would take an indefinite leave of absence from the team, with assistant Mitch Johnson stepping in as interim head coach.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13|title=Spurs' Gregg Popovich expected 'to make a full recovery' after suffering mild stroke|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/13/sport/spurs-gregg-popovich-mild-stroke-expected-recovery-spt-intl/index.html|access-date=2024-11-13|website=CNN.com}} In a meeting with Spurs players on February 27, 2025, Popovich confirmed that he would not coach the team for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|title=Gregg Popovich Informed Spurs Players He Won't Return in 2024-25 Season|url=https://www.si.com/nba/gregg-popovich-told-spurs-players-he-wont-return-this-season|website=si.com|date=February 27, 2024|access-date=February 27, 2024}}

On May 2, 2025, the Spurs announced that Popovich would step down as coach of the Spurs after 29 seasons and would transition to a new role as president of basketball operations.{{cite web|title=Gregg Popovich Transitions to Spurs President of Basketball Operations|url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/gregg-popovich-transitions-to-spurs-president-of-basketball-operations|website=NBA.com|date=May 2, 2025|access-date=May 2, 2025}} Johnson was promoted to succeed Popovich as the Spurs head coach.{{cite web|title=San Antonio Spurs Name Mitch Johnson Head Coach|url= https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/san-antonio-spurs-name-mitch-johnson-head-coach|website=NBA.com|date=May 2, 2025|access-date=May 2, 2025}}

National team career

Popovich served on the coaching staff for the U.S. men's national team during the 2002 FIBA World Championship (assisting George Karl),{{Cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714071037/http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|url-status=dead|title=2002 USA Basketball|archive-date=July 14, 2007}} during the 2003 FIBA America Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (assisting Larry Brown), where the U.S. team won the bronze medal.

On October 23, 2015, Popovich was named the head coach of the U.S. men's national team, taking over from Mike Krzyzewski after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/10/gregg-popovich-mnt-head-coach.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025002321/http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/10/gregg-popovich-mnt-head-coach.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2015|title=Gregg Popovich Named 2017–20 USA National Team Head Coach|publisher=USA Basketball|date=October 23, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015}}

At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the U.S. national team finished in seventh place, its worst finish ever in international competition.{{cite web |last1=Chiari |first1=Mike |title=Team USA Loses to Serbia After Stunning Defeat to France in 2019 FIBA World Cup |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2853443-team-usa-loses-to-serbia-after-stunning-defeat-to-france-in-2019-fiba-world-cup |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=February 27, 2020 |date=September 12, 2019}}

With Popovich serving as the head coach for the U.S. men's national team, he led the team to a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, going 5–1 and defeating France 87–82 in the final.{{cite web|last=McCallum|first=Jack|author-link=Jack McCallum|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/08/olympian-struggles-gregg-popovich/619673/|title=Why More Americans Aren't Happy for Gregg Popovich|publisher=The Atlantic|date=August 7, 2021|access-date=August 13, 2021}}{{cite web|last=Helin|first=Kurt|url=https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/08/07/watch-gregg-popovich-do-defensive-shuffles-after-gold-medal-win/|title=Watch Gregg Popovich do defensive shuffles after gold medal win|publisher=NBC Sports|date=August 7, 2021|access-date=August 13, 2021}}

Personal life

File:Gregg Popovich Junior ROTC.jpg and Spurs' player David Robinson, speaks to Junior ROTC cadets from local high schools (2000)]]

Popovich was married to Erin Popovich for 42 years until her death on April 18, 2018; the couple has two children.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/spurs-announce-gregg-popovichs-wife-erin-popovich-died-002922151.html|title=Spurs announce that Gregg Popovich's wife Erin Popovich has died|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=April 19, 2018 }}

Popovich is a serious wine collector and an investor in Oregon's A to Z Wineworks.{{Cite web |last=Steiman |first=Harvey |date=July 5, 2006 |title=That Li'l Ol' Winemaker, Popovich |url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/that-lil-ol-winemaker-popovich-14191 |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=Wine Spectator}}

On November 2, 2024, Popovich had a stroke. He later took an indefinite leave from the Spurs to recover.

On April 15, 2025, Popovich reportedly fainted at a restaurant before being taken to a hospital by ambulance. Within days, he had returned home.{{cite web|title=Gregg Popovich has medical incident in restaurant, is resting at home, AP source says|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/gregg-popovich-has-medical-incident-in-restaurant-is-resting-at-home-ap-source-says/ar-AA1DcapI?ocid=BingNewsSerp|website=msn.com|date=April 18, 2025|access-date=April 18, 2025}}

=Political views=

On multiple occasions, Popovich has spoken out on behalf of social justice issues. He expressed support for the 2017 Women's March. He also repeatedly criticized the behavior of U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term in office.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/sports/basketball/kerr-gundy-popovich-criticize-donald-j-trump.html|title=Emboldened N.B.A. Coaches Rip Donald J. Trump's Rhetoric|last=Cacciola|first=Scott|date=November 12, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 15, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/spurs-coach-gregg-popovich-finds-a-voice-as-critic-of-president-trump/2017/02/17/9f9cf462-f480-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html|title=Gregg Popovich has found the opponent of his life: President Trump|last=Babb|first=Kent|date=February 17, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 15, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/333359-spurs-coach-gregg-popovich-goes-after-embarrassing-president/|title=Spurs coach Gregg Popovich goes after 'embarrassing' President Trump|last=Savransky|first=Rebecca|date=May 14, 2017|work=The Hill|access-date=May 15, 2017}} Popovich endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.{{cite news|first=Madalyn|last=Mendoza|title=Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich endorses Joe Biden for U.S. President|date=November 12, 2020|website=MySanAntonio.com|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Spurs-Coach-Gregg-Popovich-endorses-Joe-Biden-for-15686947.php|access-date=November 12, 2020}}

=Humanitarian work=

Popovich has spent considerable time and money working with several charities and nonprofits such as the San Antonio Food Bank and the Innocence Project. He also took part in Shoes That Fit, an organization that aims to deliver shoes to more than 200 students at Gates Elementary School affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21888028/san-antonio-spurs-coach-gregg-popovich-says-charitable-endeavors-important-rich-hell-need-all|title=Popovich: If you're 'rich as hell,' give to charity|website=espn.com|date=December 27, 2017 }} Popovich is helping raise funds for J/P HRO, a disaster relief program that operates in Haiti, and various disaster relief organizations in the U.S. and Caribbean.{{cite web | last=Benjamin | first=Cody | title=Gregg Popovich stands up for charity: 'We're rich as hell, and we don't need it all' | website=CBSSports.com | date=2017-09-25 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/gregg-popovich-stands-up-for-charity-were-rich-as-hell-and-we-dont-need-it-all/ | access-date=2025-01-25}}

Career playing statistics

=College=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
Year !Team !GP !FG% !FT% !RPG !PPG
style="text-align:left;" \|1968–69 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Air Force \|19 \|.481 \|.650 \|1.9 \|5.4
style="text-align:left;" \|1969–70 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Air Force \|24 \|.559 \|.796 \|4.5 \|14.3
colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \|Career \|43 \|.540 \|.754 \|3.4 \|10.3
colspan="7" style="text-align: center;" \| Source:{{cite web\|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/gregg-popovich-1.html\|title=Gregg Popovich College Stats\|website=Sports Reference College Basketball\|publisher=Sports Reference LLC\|accessdate=February 26, 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"

Year

!Team

!GP

!FG%

!FT%

!RPG

!PPG

style="text-align:left;" |1968–69

| style="text-align:left;" |Air Force

|19

|.481

|.650

|1.9

|5.4

style="text-align:left;" |1969–70

| style="text-align:left;" |Air Force

|24

|.559

|.796

|4.5

|14.3

colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Career

|43

|.540

|.754

|3.4

|10.3

colspan="7" style="text-align: center;" | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/gregg-popovich-1.html|title=Gregg Popovich College Stats|website=Sports Reference College Basketball|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=February 26, 2025}}

Head coaching record

=College=

{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach| conference = | postseason= }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens

| conference= Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1979

| endyear = 1986

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1979–80

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 2–22

| conference = 1–11

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1980–81

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 10–15

| conference = 3–9

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1981–82

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 9–17

| conference = 6–6

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1982–83

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 12–11

| conference = 6–4

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1983–84

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 9–17

| conference = 6–6

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1984–85

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 11–14

| conference = 7–5

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1985–86

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 16–12

| conference = 8–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA D-III regional fourth place{{cite web|url=http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/men/1986 |title=1986 Division III men's basketball tournament |publisher=D3hoops |access-date=October 2, 2016}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens

| conference = Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1987

| endyear = 1988

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1987–88

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 7–19

| conference = 4–6

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = Pomona-Pitzer

| overall = 76–129

| confrecord = 41–49

}}

{{CBB yearly record end

| overall = 76–129

}}