The decision by Popovich to end his run as coach of the San Antonio Spurs — it was announced by the team on Friday, along with the promotion of Mitch Johnson to the job — means that the longest active tenure by any coach in any of the four U.S. major pro sports had ended.

The San Antonio Spurs announced Friday that Gregg Popovich would step down as head coach and transition to president of basketball operations.

When I took the opportunity to join the Austin Spurs over nine years ago, I had no idea that opportunity was in front of me,” Johnson said at the end of the regular season. A