The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2023
Gregg Popovich
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2023
- Embed from Getty Images
- Sport(s): Basketball
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Statistics:
5 NBA Championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 & 2014)
3 NBA Coach of the Year Awards (2003, 2012 & 2014)
3 SCIAC Champion (1980, 1981 & 1982)
76-129 NCAA Division III Record
638-437 NBA Record -
Gregg Popovich has been considered a top NBA coach for the past 30 years, though if you are looking for a mid-game interview, you are lucky to get a full sentence. Luckily coaches aren’t judged on sound bites.
Popovich played his college ball at Air Force, where he returned as an assistant coach after his military requirement ended, and he would later become the head coach of Pomona-Pitzer in Division III. Popovich won three conference titles and moved on to the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach in 1988. He was there for four years, and then an assistant with Golden State, but he left after two years to return to the Spurs as their general manager.
After a poor start, Popovich replaced his coach, Bob Hill, with himself, and "Pop" is still their head coach. With a team based around David Robinson and Tim Duncan, Popovich got the most out of an international contingent that had Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs won their first championship in 1999 and has won four since (2003, 2005, 2007 & 2014).
As Popovich is still coaching, he could add to his accolades, but it is hard to envision the respect that he has growing, as it is already sky-high.
We are proud to nominate Greg Popovich for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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