The team announced Friday that NBA's most winning coach Gregg Popovich resigned as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after nearly three decades.

“Although my love and passion for this game still exists, I decided it was time to leave as head coach,” Popovich said. “I am forever grateful to the amazing players, coaches, staff and fans who have allowed me to be the head coach of the Spurs and are excited to continue to support organizations, communities and cities that have made sense to me.”

Popovich will continue to serve as the team president. Mitch Johnson was promoted to head coach.

While serving as head coach, Popovich, 76, led the team to five NBA titles, became a victorious leader in league history and was selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"The great impact of coaching popularity has on our families, San Antonio, the Spurs and basketball games is very profound," Spurs board partner Peter J. Holt said in a statement. "His praise and awards have not been just influential on him for so many people. He is indeed a person, leader and coach."

Popovich missed all but five games this season after having a stroke in the team’s arena on November 2, 2024. He has not spoken publicly since then, although he at least spoke to his team and issued a statement in late March saying he hopes to return to coaching.

Popovich joined the Spurs in the summer of 1988 as assistant coach Larry Brown. Prior to that, he spent two seasons between 1992 and 1994, serving as an assistant coach for Don Nelson and as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.

Popovich moved to the job of hiring coach Bob Hill in his role as general manager of the Spurs and promoted himself to the job on December 10, 1996.

Popovich said that day: "It is necessary to have directional changes."

Since then, the Spurs have never changed direction.

Popovich's career ended with a record of 1,422-869, which included 77 games - 32 wins and 45 losses - coached this season by Spurs assistant Johnson. He also won 170 playoff games with the Spurs, with any team having the most coaches, second only to Phil Jackson's 229 and 171 in Pat Riley.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “Gregg Popovich’s continued success as head coach of the San Antonio Masturs.

Popovich also coached the United States, leading them to win gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Johnson was the agent coach of the last 77 games the Spurs played this season. He will make an official introduction on Monday.

“We are very pleased that Mitch Johnson is our next head coach,” Holt said. “Over the whole organization, we have seen Mitch have the right values, calmness and potential to bring us into the future.”