Mitch Johnson will begin a new career chapter as the Spurs’ next head coach after Gregg Popovich stepped down and transitioned to the role of president of basketball operations on Friday, May 2.
Johnson was the acting head coach for San Antonio’s final 77 games of the 2024-25 season and went 32-45 in those games, after Popovich, who spent 29 seasons at the helm, suffered a stroke in the Spurs’ arena a few hours before the their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 2. 2024.
Learn more about Popovich’s successor as a new era begins in San Antonio.
Johnson has been a part of the Spurs for over a decade
In 2016, Johnson, a native of Seattle, Washington, started an assistant coach for the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate.
He won the 2018 G League Championship before transitioning to the NBA in 2019.
Johnson spent six seasons as an assistant coach on Popovich’s staff.
He coached the Spurs in the NBA Summer League at Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to joining the Spurs’ organization, he spent one season as an assistant at the University of Portland in 2016.
Johnson is close with franchise phenom Victor Wembanyama.
He was a pivotal part in the development of the Spurs’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Johnson became the individual shooting coach for the French phenom.
Johnson played three years professionally
A former guard, Johnson had stints in the G-League and in Europe before joining the Spurs as a coach.
That came after he played Division I basketball from 2005-09 at Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
As a senior year, he started 32 games and averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
He led the team in assists with 145 and was second in steals, 39.
Johnson comes from a basketball family
He is the son of 12-year NBA veteran John Johnson.
Johnson is a husband and father
The coach and his wife Jessica have four children, Tasia, Tatum, Johnnie and Jameson.
