‘I go to Joseph Woll in Game 1’: Kypreos thinks Stolarz needs rest

Nick Kypreos joins Sportsnet Central following the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Ottawa Senators in six games to discuss whether or not Anthony Stolarz should start Game 1 vs. the Florida Panthers.

For the first time since 1996, the San Antonio Spurs need a new head coach.

Gregg Popovich is stepping down from his longtime position and transitioning to full-time president of basketball operations, the team announced on Friday.

Popovich, 76, left the sidelines after suffering a mild stroke in November and did not return for the remainder of the season.

In April, he required medical attention following an incident at a restaurant.

“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said in a press release.

“I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”

Mitch Johnson, who took over as interim head coach in November, will reportedly be named Popovich’s successor after nearly a decade as an assistant, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. San Antonio missed the post-season, placing 13th in the Western Conference with a 34-48 record.

Popovich was in regular contact with Johnson and often in the facility, even addressing the team on at least one occasion in February. Popovich, at that time, said he hopes he can “return to coaching in the future.”

Popovich is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, has led the Spurs to five NBA championships and guided USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. He’s the all-time wins leader in NBA history and one of only three coaches to win the NBA coach of the year award three times, Don Nelson and Pat Riley being the others.

His tenure with the Spurs goes back to 1988 when he joined the club as an assistant coach. He left in 1992 and returned May 31, 1994, as executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager.

He fired Bob Hill and appointed himself coach on Dec. 10, 1996, holding that title ever since.

–with files from The Associated Press