BREAKING: Pop is Officially Retiring as HC of the Spurs; Will Now be Team President

[J_Paco]

He isn't retiring, them keeping mitch means he gets to continue coaching from the office.

This would be laughable if it wasn't for us possibility losing Wemby in a couple of seasons

What?!

The team is improving, added a star PG, has two first-round picks in a loaded draft but you are worried about Wemby leaving?!

I doubt a 70+ year old stroke survive will be busy enough to undermine one of his proteges, man. He'll have input on player personnel, but the X's and O's is likely all Mitch (Lord help us).

[rankingtear]

Thanks Pop. Still underrated on how he willed a championship level team for close to 20 years in a small market.

[TekXX]

This organization is kinda cheap. First replacing Bill Land with that young dude who constantly reminds you he's native and now hiring Johnson who will definitely be cheaper than some of the other names out there.

[TimmehC]

I wanted Jenkins, but it seems like Pop and Brian and whoever else decided continuity is more important than proven success. For now we just have to roll with it and hope he doesn't have a very long leash if he fails.

Edit: if Brown/Bud don't get head coaching gigs somewhere, I'd love to see them back in SA as assistants. Would also give us someone to turn to if Mitch isn't working out

[Russo21]

Byebye grandpa. Go visit Erin

[spurraider21]

Pop had to us one more time on his way out with the Johnson hire

[pad300]

"Strong backing from the organization"; presumably that means that Wemby and his people approve...

[Mugen]

Man, what was supposed to be a glorious day with the old man retiring just had to be ted on by the Mitch hire

[mudyez]

GOAT!

[T Park]

He isn't retiring, them keeping mitch means he gets to continue coaching from the office.

This would be laughable if it wasn't for us possibility losing Wemby in a couple of seasons

Laughable idiocy.

Typical for this place anymore

[T Park]

"Strong backing from the organization"; presumably that means that Wemby and his people approve...

Advocated for in public and behind the scenes

[pad300]

Advocated for in public and behind the scenes

Assuming that you're actually "in the know", then there was no real choice on part of the FO, it had to Mitch. Fine, it's on Wemby to lead us to the promised land (again)...

[biziofromdowntown]

What a run. Thanks for everything Pop. You will be forever The Coach, from my teen yrs to a man with a family. Thanks for the memories.

[John B]

Happy for Pop. And still on the helm. He’ll bring a winner if Mitch does not cut it.

[Robz4000]

Its been time for awhile, but he's still the GOAT tbh. Thanks for everything, Pop.

[tim_duncan_fan]

I cannot believe it. Gregg Popovich NOT the coach of the San Antonio Spurs?

This day was always coming, and it is time, but it feels so surreal. Holy , dude, time really does just move on, no matter who you are.


Here's to the future, and here's to Pop! What a legend!

[exstatic]

I wanted Jenkins, but it seems like Pop and Brian and whoever else decided continuity is more important than proven success. For now we just have to roll with it and hope he doesn't have a very long leash if he fails.

Edit: if Brown/Bud don't get head coaching gigs somewhere, I'd love to see them back in SA as assistants. Would also give us someone to turn to if Mitch isn't working out

Y’know,I think Jenkins could have been the choice, but let’s not act like he didn’t get bounced out as a 2 seed.

[Ice009]

Glad this news is coming now… so long as it is not followed by news that Mitch Johnson is being hired.

I have mixed feelings about him staying on as President of BBall operations. I don’t want the next HC to feel like they are living in Pop’s shadow or don’t have the autonomy they need… I also don’t want Brian Wright feeling like he is not empowered to do what he needs to do… let Brian cook! (To be fair, Brian may already feel completely empowered).

On the flip side, Pop remaining at President does provide continuity and Wemby seems to like Pop, so that’s important.

I’m thinking that a coaching hire may be be announced soon and that they’ve held off on announcing this while they finalize that deal. It won’t be Becky, considering the Aces have a game TODAY and they had plenty of opportunity to do that deal without disrupting the Aces season if they wanted to (which the Spurs won’t care about, but Becky likely will).

I’m thinking it will be Mitch or Jenkins.

Just got on Spurstalk and got all this at once. I thought good for Pop to step down, but then reading through the tread, yep, darn, they hired Mitch.

I wanted Jenkins, but it seems like Pop and Brian and whoever else decided continuity is more important than proven success. For now we just have to roll with it and hope he doesn't have a very long leash if he fails.

Edit: if Brown/Bud don't get head coaching gigs somewhere, I'd love to see them back in SA as assistants. Would also give us someone to turn to if Mitch isn't working out

The thing that s me is if Mitch doesn't work out, there's not going to be any of these good coaches left .

[Tyronn Lue]

These coaches being fired left and right aren't "good" coaches. They are just names. Bud stopped coaching after the ring. Give Mitch a chance.

[Spurs Brazil]

Thanks for everything Pop. You're the best.

[Russ]

It's too bad these things seem to happen at low points rather than high ones.

Duncan retires after they lose to OKC, now Pop retires after this year.

Anyway, congrats Pop.

[ace3g]

[rjv]

Bittersweet moment. Sorry to see him go out without getting to coach his last season all the way through but happy to hear that he is staying on as a big part of the organization.

[TD 21]

will likely be fired within the next two to three years.

More than likely, the only way he's not a long term fixture, is if it's for a health reason or Wembanyama (who was onboard with this decision) decides he doesn't want him to be.

These coaches being fired left and right aren't "good" coaches. They are just names. Bud stopped coaching after the ring. Give Mitch a chance.

A combination of results and secondhand information via media (who often have agendas) or fans of a particular team, influence people, most of whom barely or altogether don't watch said team and have rudimentary x's and o's knowledge, what to think and before long it becomes groupthink.

[weeks]

thanks for everything, coach pop. you'll never be forgotten and you'll never be replaced.