The 2025-26 NBA season is underway and the San Antonio Spurs are under the leadership of a new head coach.
Mitch Johnson was named the 19th head coach in Spurs history on May 2. He succeeds one of the most decorated coaches in NBA history, Gregg Popovich, who served as head coach for 29 seasons and is now the Spurs’ President of Basketball Operations.
Johnson is entering his 10th season with the Spurs. Last season, Popovich stepped away from the team due to health complications after just five games. Johnson was appointed the Spurs acting head coach for the remaining 77 games.
“We’ve got some amazing young new players surrounded by some vets and a new coach and coaching staff that has energy,” said Spurs Managing Partner Peter J. Holt this week at the San Antonio Report’s annual CityFest event. “I think this season and going into the future, we’ve got a tremendously exciting young core.”
Holt and NBA legend Sean Elliot spoke on a keynote panel about the team’s legacy and its future.
Johnson has been with the organization since 2016, when he was hired as assistant coach for the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate. He helped the team win the G League Championship in 2018.
Popovich hired Johnson as an assistant coach with the Spurs in 2019. In 2020, he was promoted to a full-time assistant role, taking over Tim Duncan’s former position on staff.
Morgan Severson is the Community Engagement Editor for the San Antonio Report. She’s formerly a news associate for CNN and has previously reported for the Houston Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman,…
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