By Eurohoops team / [email protected]
For the first time in 29 years, Gregg Popovich won’t be the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the President of the team after suffering a mild stroke in November.
In a historic press conference, he opened a new era for the organization and a new era for basketball. “I guess you all know why you’re here. It’s quite a day for many of us, I wanna thank you after 25 or 30 years,” he said to start the event.
“I can never express the gratitude that I have for so many people caring about the organization and sending me thoughts and prayers since I had this stroke. Things are getting better by the day, but it’s not good enough for what we plan ahead, so it’s time to make this change,” Popovich added.
“I wanna thank former players, coaches, friends, people from the ticket office, people who put show during timeouts. We all have a part in this – everybody has been dedicating to do their part, to make us successful as an organization. We will continue to do our best, to do it with class,” he said.
Mitch Johnson, who was appointed as the club’s interim coach during Gregg Popovich’s months of absence, has been appointed the newest head coach of the Spurs.
“That’s one of the reasons why Mitch Johnson will be taking over: we have total faith in him to continue what started a long time ago,” Popovich also said, welcoming his successor.
During the press conference, speaking alongside San Antonio’s legends Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, he unveiled a t-shirt with the sign “El Jefe,” which translates into “The Boss,” from Spanish. “I’m no longer coach: I’m El Jefe”, he said.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images