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[Saba Sports News] San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has made a major decision regarding his future with the franchise.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Popovich is stepping down as head coach after 29 seasons but will remain with the organization in a full-time role as team president.
While he has stayed involved in day-to-day operations and remained active around the team’s facilities, Popovich ultimately concluded that he can no longer handle the demands of coaching, even though he had hoped to return to the sidelines.
Health appears to have played a role in his decision. The 76-year-old suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2 and has not coached since. Although his recovery is reportedly going well, concerns resurfaced recently after a medical emergency at a restaurant. Reports in February had already suggested his return to coaching was uncertain.
Popovich departs as one of the most accomplished coaches in NBA history. He holds the all-time record for regular-season wins with 1,422, along with 170 playoff victories and five NBA championships during his legendary run with the Spurs.
Now, San Antonio will begin the search for a new head coach. With rising star Victor Wembanyama leading a promising young core, the position is expected to draw significant interest.