Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Gregg Popovich
Discover the career path of Gregg Popovich, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Gregg Popovich, nicknamed "Coach Pop", is the president and head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. He joined the Spurs organization in 1994 and became head coach in 1996. He holds the record for the most wins of any coach in NBA history. He's considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history and is the longest-tenured active coach in the NBA and other major U.S. sports leagues.
1973: Returned to Air Force Academy as Assistant Coach
In 1973, Popovich returned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant coach and earned a master's degree from the University of Denver.
1979: Named Head Coach of Pomona-Pitzer
In 1979, Popovich became the head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.
1985: Volunteer Assistant at Kansas
In 1985, Popovich became a volunteer assistant at the University of Kansas to study under Larry Brown.
1987: Joined Spurs as Assistant Coach
In 1987, Popovich joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach.
1988: Lead Assistant Coach for Spurs
In 1988, Popovich became the lead assistant coach for the Spurs.
1988: End of Coaching at Pomona-Pitzer
In 1988, Popovich concluded his coaching tenure with the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.
1992: Assistant Coach for Golden State Warriors
In 1992, Popovich moved to the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach under Don Nelson.
1994: Joined the Spurs Organization
In 1994, Popovich became a member of the San Antonio Spurs organization as president of basketball operations and general manager.
1994: Returned to Spurs as General Manager
In 1994, Popovich returned to San Antonio as the general manager and vice president of basketball operations.
December 10, 1996: Popovich Becomes Spurs Head Coach
On December 10, 1996, Popovich fired coach Bob Hill and named himself the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after a poor start to the season.
1996: Took Over as Spurs Coach
In 1996, Popovich took over as coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
1997: Recovered to win 56 games
After drafting Tim Duncan, the Spurs recovered to win 56 games in 1997-1998.
1997: Spurs Draft Tim Duncan
In 1997, the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan first overall due to their disastrous season, marking a turning point for the franchise.
1999: Won First Championship
In 1999, Popovich and the Spurs secured their first NBA championship.
1999: Spurs Win First NBA Title
In 1999, Popovich led the San Antonio Spurs to their first NBA championship title.
2002: Relinquished General Manager Position
In 2002, Popovich relinquished his position as general manager to R. C. Buford.
2002: Coaching Staff for US Men's National Team
In 2002, Popovich was on the coaching staff for the U.S. men's national team during the FIBA World Championship.
2003: Won Second Championship
In 2003, Popovich and the Spurs won their second NBA championship. He was also named NBA Coach of the Year.
2003: FIBA America Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
In 2003, Popovich served on the coaching staff during the FIBA America Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
2004: Athens Olympic Games
During the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Popovich helped the US team win the bronze medal.
2005: Won Third Championship
In 2005, Popovich led the Spurs to their third NBA championship.
2007: Won Fourth Championship
In 2007, Popovich won his fourth NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs.
2011: NBA Season
Popovich won the Coach of the Year Award for the 2011-2012 NBA season.
May 2, 2012: Won Second Coach of the Year Award
On May 2, 2012, Popovich won his second Coach of the Year Award for the 2011-12 NBA season.
2012: Named NBA Coach of the Year
In 2012, Popovich was named NBA Coach of the Year for the second time.
2013: Spurs Lost in NBA Finals
In 2013, Popovich led the Spurs to the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, but they suffered their first-ever Finals loss.
April 22, 2014: Won Third Coach of the Year Award
On April 22, 2014, Popovich was awarded the Red Auerbach Trophy as NBA Coach of the Year for the third time.
2014: Won Fifth NBA Championship
In 2014, Popovich and the Spurs won their fifth NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat in the Finals.
2014: Won Fifth Championship and Coach of the Year
In 2014, Popovich won his fifth NBA championship and was named NBA Coach of the Year for the third time.
February 9, 2015: Won 1,000th Game
On February 9, 2015, Popovich became the ninth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games, achieving this with the Spurs.
August 1, 2015: Coached Team Africa
On August 1, 2015, Popovich served as the head coach for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.
October 23, 2015: Named Head Coach of U.S. Men's National Team
On October 23, 2015, Popovich was named the head coach of the U.S. men's national team, succeeding Mike Krzyzewski after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
2015: Spurs Achieved Franchise-High Wins
In the 2015-16 NBA season, Popovich led the Spurs to a franchise-high 67 wins, though they lost in the conference semifinals.
2016: Named Head Coach of U.S. Men's National Team
In 2016, Popovich succeeded Mike Krzyzewski as the head coach of the U.S. men's national team.
February 4, 2017: Surpassed Jerry Sloan
On February 4, 2017, Popovich recorded his 1,128th regular season win with one franchise, surpassing Jerry Sloan.
2017: Spoke Out on Social Justice Issues
In 2017, Popovich spoke out in support of social justice issues, including the Women's March.
April 13, 2019: All-Time Winningest Coach
On April 13, 2019, Popovich became the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with his 1,413th win (regular season and playoffs combined), surpassing Lenny Wilkens.
January 26, 2020: Homage to Kobe Bryant
On January 26, 2020, following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, Popovich proposed an intentional shot clock violation to honor Bryant's jersey number, initiating a league-wide tribute.
2020: Led Team to Gold Medal at Olympics
In 2020, Popovich coached the U.S. men's national team to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
2020: Coached U.S. National Team to Gold
In 2020, Popovich coached the U.S. national team at the Summer Olympics, leading them to a gold medal.
2020: Endorsed Joe Biden
In 2020, Popovich publicly endorsed Joe Biden in the U.S. presidential election.
March 27, 2021: Won 1,300th Regular Season Game
On March 27, 2021, Popovich won his 1,300th regular season game, becoming the third NBA coach to reach this milestone.
March 11, 2022: Most Regular Season Wins of All Time
On March 11, 2022, Popovich surpassed Don Nelson for the most regular season wins of all time, achieving his 1,336th victory with the Spurs.
July 8, 2023: Signed Contract Extension
On July 8, 2023, Popovich signed a five-year contract extension with the Spurs, securing his position through the 2027-28 season.
2027: Contract Extension Through 2027-28 Season
Popovich will stay with the Spurs until 2027.
