This airport to be named after coach Gregg Popovich?
After nearly three decades on the bench and five championships, Popovich’s name may soon welcome visitors to the city he helped define.
Gregg Popovich (East Chicago, Indiana, 1949) is a true San Antonio institution. He’s not just the city’s basketball coach – he is the coach. When he took over the Spurs in 1996, replacing Bob Hill, the franchise had no titles to its name. By the time he stepped down, it had five, all won under his leadership across 29 seasons with the unforgettable trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili.
A master strategist, Popovich officially ended his time on the sidelines on May 2, when he announced he was stepping away from coaching to assume the presidency of the organization. His departure was long anticipated. A minor stroke last November had already pulled him out of action just five games into the regular season, and a health scare at a restaurant in April closed the door for good on any potential return.
Now, his essential contribution to basketball in San Antonio may be honored in the most permanent way possible. Manny Peláez, a member of the San Antonio city council, has proposed renaming the city’s airport after him – turning San Antonio International Airport into Gregg Popovich International Airport.
A reminder of the Popovich legacy
“As our city continues to grow and welcome visitors from all over the world through San Antonio International Airport, we believe it would be a fitting and lasting tribute to name this vital gateway in honor of Coach Gregg Popovich,” reads Peláez’s proposal.
“Renaming the airport as Gregg Popovich International Airport would serve as a constant reminder of his extraordinary legacy and the positive impact he’s had on our city and beyond,” the council member adds. He also pointed to similar precedents in the state – George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the state capital.
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