This article will answer every question you have about Gregg Popovich. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about him.
- What does Gregg do for a living?
- Who are Gregg’s parents and siblings?
- What are Gregg’s interests and hobbies?
- Is Gregg married or does he have a girlfriend/ boyfriend?
- Does Gregg have any children?
- Where is Gregg now?
- How tall is Gregg?
- How much money does Gregg earn?
- What is Gregg’s net worth?
N/B: Please read the entire post to have all your questions answered.
Who is Gregg Popovich?
Gregg Charles Popovich is a well-known American professional basketball coach and executive. He is the head coach and president of the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA (National Basketball Association).
In 1996, Popovich took over as the Spurs coach, thereby becoming the longest-tenured active coach in both the NBA and all major sports leagues in the United States. Popovich is often called “Coach Pop” or “Pop”. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, as he is the winningest coach in NBA history.
As a head coach in his first 22 full seasons, he has led Spurs to a winning record for the most consecutive winning seasons in NBA history. The Spurs have had a winning record against every other NBA team in Popovich’s tenure. He has also led the Spurs to all five of their NBA titles and is one of only five coaches in NBA history to have won five titles. Gregg was also the head coach of the U.S. national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics and led the team to a gold medal.
How Old is Gregg Popovich?
He is 73 years old as of March 2022, having been born on January 28, 1949, in East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. Gregg shares his birthdate with celebrities such as; That Girl Lay Lay, Lucas Dobre, Peyton Coffee, HRVY, Marcus Dobre, and many more.
Gregg Popovich Family
Who are Gregg Popovich’s Parents?
He was born to Raymond Popovich (Father), and Katherine Popovich (Mother) his parents are both Serbo-Croatian.
Does Gregg Popovich have Siblings?
There is no information on the internet regarding his siblings. In case of new news regarding this matter, we will update it here as soon as possible.
Gregg Popovich Education
He received his high school education at Merrillville High School. He graduated in 1970 from the United States Air Force Academy. Popovich also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Soviet Studies and underwent Air Force intelligence training. He later earned a master’s degree in physical education and sports sciences at the University of Denver.
Gregg Popovich Marital Status
He is possibly single. But was previously married to Erin Popovich, they married in 1976, but her wife died on April 18, 2018.
Gregg Popovich Kids
He has two kids together with her wife. A son by the name of Micky Popovich, and a daughter by the name of Jill Popovich.
Gregg Popovich Coaching Career
A Pomona-Pitzer and Early Career
In 1973, Popovich returned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant coach under head coach Hank Egan, a position he held for six years. Later Egan became an assistant coach under Popovich for the San Antonio Spurs. Popovich was named head basketball coach of Pomona-Pitzer’s men’s team in 1979. And from 1979 to 1988, he coached the Pomona-Pitzer men’s basketball leading the team to its first outright title in 68 years. In the 1987-88 season, Gregg joined Larry Brown as the lead assistant coach for the Spurs. He was then Brown’s top assistant from 1988 to 1992 until the entire staff was fired by owner Red McCombs. Gregg then moved to the Golden State Warriors for a brief stint in 1992.
A Career with the San Antonio Spurs
Popovich returned to San Antonio as the general manager and vice president of basketball operations in 1994, after Peter Holt purchased the team. His first move was to sign Avery Johnson as the team’s starting point guard. Another of his early moves in San Antonio was to trade Dennis Rodman to the Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue. On December 10, 1996, Popovich fired coach Bob Hill and named himself as head coach. The Spurs’ disastrous season allowed them for the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft in which they drafted Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University.
The Spurs won their first NBA title in 1999, after recovering to win 56 games in 1997-1998 (Gregg’s first full year as coach). Popovich withdrew his position as general manager to R.C.Buford, who had served as the team’s head scout. With the San Antonio Spurs, Popovich has won five championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. And he was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2003, 2012, and 2014. Gregg returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy on April 4, 2008, to receive the academy’s award of Distinguished Graduate. Despite having four NBA titles at the time, He said it was the most meaningful award he had ever received.
Career Continuation
Gregg won his second Coach of the Year Award on May 2, 2012, for the 2011-12 NBA season. Popovich led the Spurs to face the Miami Heat to the 2013 NBA Finals. The series lasted seven games, but the Spurs had their first-ever Final Loss. Popovich on April 22, 2014, was awarded the Red Auerbach Trophy as he won his third NBA Coach of the Year. After beating the Miami Heat 4-1 in the Finals, Popovich won his fifth NBA championship with San Antonio that season. And on February 9, 2015, Gregg became the ninth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games when the Spurs defeated the Indiana Pacers 95-93. Jerry Sloan and Gregg Popovich are the only two coaches in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one franchise. Popovich served as Team Africa’s head coach on August 1, 2015, at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.
During the 2015-16 season, Gregg led the Spurs to a franchise-high 67 wins but lost in the conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Popovich surpassed Sloan by recording his 1,128th regular season with one franchise on February 4, 2017. And on April 13, 2019, he surpassed Lenny Wilkens and became the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with his 1,413th win (regular season and playoffs combined).
After leading his team to a 120-104 win against the Chicago Bulls on March 27, 2021, Gregg won his 1,300th regular-season game and became the third NBA coach to reach the milestone. Popovich led the Spurs to his 1,333rd regular-season victory on February 16, 2022, thereby surpassing Lenny Wilkens for second place all-time. He also the Spurs on March 11, to his 1,336th regular-season victory surpassing Don Nelson for first place all-time.
A National Team Career
During the 2002 FIBA World Championship, Popovich served on the coaching staff for the U.S. men’s national team. And also during the 2003 FIBA America Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where the U.S. team won the bronze medal. Gregg on October 23, 2015, was named the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team taking over from Mike Krzyzewski after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Popovich served as the head coach for the U.S. men’s national team, leading them to a gold medal, going 5-1 and defeating France 87-82 in the final.
Humanitarian Work
Gregg is helping raise funds for J/P HRO, a disaster relief program that operates in Haiti, and various disaster relief organizations in the U.S. and Caribbean. He also has spent time and money working with several charities and nonprofits such as the Innocence Project, and the San Antonio Food Bank. He has also taken part in Shoes That Fit. An organization that aims to deliver shoes to more than 200 students at Gates Elementary School affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Gregg Popovich Height and Measurements
Adding up to his well-built body is a height of 6ft 3inches (1.91m) and a weight of 104kg (229lbs)
Gregg Popovich Salary and Net Worth
He earns an annual salary of $11.5 million and a net worth of $120 million.
