Spurs’ Popovich named Coach of the Year
Agence France-Presse
Gregg Popovich. AFP Photo
NEW YORK — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was voted the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2011-2012 season, the NBA announced on Tuesday, marking the second time that Popovich has won the award.
Popovich, in his 16th season guiding the Spurs, coached San Antonio to a 50-16 record, matching Chicago for the best in the league. The Spurs reached the playoffs for a 15th consecutive season, the longest active NBA run.
Popovich, who also won the award in the 2002-2003 season, received 77 first-place votes and 467 total points in voting by a media panel.
Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, last season’s winner, was second with 27 first-place votes and 315 points. Indiana’s Frank Vogel was third with seven first-place nods and 161 points.
Popovich is the longest tenured current coach with the same team in the four major North American pro sports leagues and his 68-percent win ratio is the best of any of the longest-tenured coaches from any of those sports.
With an NBA career record of 847-399 all spent with the Spurs, Popovich ranks second in NBA history for career triumphs with one club, trailing only former Utah coach Jerry Sloan’s total of 1,127.
Follow Us
Recent Stories:
Tags: awards , Coach of the Year , Gregg Popovich , NBA , San Antonio Spurs , Sports
