Fitting tribute to Gregg Popovich: San Antonio Mayor proposes renaming airport in Coach Pop’s honor

San Antonio Mayor Manny Pelaez has proposed renaming the San Antonio International Airport to Gregg Popovich International Airport as a fitting tribute to the longest-serving coach in NBA history. Gregg Popovich, popularly called Coach Pop, had been the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs for almost 30 years and finally retired this year due to health issues. The 76-year-old is known for his no-nonsense, military-style coaching and for delivering results few coaches have ever matched.Manny Pelaez said in a statement: "Coach Popovich's impact on San Antonio is immeasurable. He has not only brought unparalleled success and recognition to our city through his legendary coaching, but he has also become a deeply respected and admired figure within our community.”“As our city continues to grow and welcome visitors from around the world through the San Antonio International Airport, we believe it would be a fitting and lasting tribute to dedicate this vital gateway in honor of Coach Gregg Popovich. Renaming the airport to 'Gregg Popovich International Airport' would serve as a constant reminder of his extraordinary legacy and the positive impact he has had on our city and beyond," he added.Popovich underwent extensive training in Air Force intelligence and was on track to join the CIA before taking a U-turn to pursue a coaching career in basketball. In a podcast with LeBron James, Steve Nash described the powerful influence of Coach Pop’s presence during a game.Nash said during the Mind The Game podcast, "Was Pop a spy in the military? I'm serious. He spoke Russian. He came from the Air Force Academy. I think he was on his way to being an agent for the United States government—and you're trying to win a basketball game against him? I always felt like there was a little bit of a disadvantage, or a hill we were trying to climb, just Pop himself."Also Read: LeBron James, Steve Nash recall the effect San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s presence had during a gameGregg Popovich continues to serve as President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs. He stepped away from coaching recently after suffering a mild stroke last year and facing other health concerns. He led the Spurs to five NBA championships and achieved 1,422 career wins during his tenure.