The San Antonio Spurs introduced Mitch Johnson as their new head coach on Monday after Gregg Popovich announced his retirement for health reasons.
Popovich has a new role as the team’s president of basketball operations, and was in a light-hearted mood after his decision. He briefly spoke to the assembled media before introducing Johnson as his successor, and came with a custom shirt to explain his new role.
Flanked by Spurs legends Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, Popovich removed his jacket to show off a shirt referring to himself as “El Jefe,” which is Spanish for “the chief.”
"I'm no longer coach. I'm El Jefe." 🤣
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 5, 2025
Gotta love Coach Pop ❤️
(via @spurs) pic.twitter.com/f03WzFIf8K
Popovich probably was not looking forward to the day when he had to step aside as coach, but he is still having some fun with it. It certainly fits with his blunt sense of humor.
Popovich’s new role will be a significant one, as he will still be calling the shots in the front office. He is also still providing some tips to playoff teams and appears to be as sharp as ever.
Citing the concerns of the long grind of the NBA season, Popovich decided to step aside from his coaching role last week. Johnson, his replacement, was his top assistant and the Spurs’ interim coach for much of last season.
