Spurs' Popovich named Coach of the Year

May 1, 2012 - 10:17 PM San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - The NBA announced Tuesday that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been named Coach of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

"Pop has provided this whole organization with a vision and a clarity of purpose, as players, coaches and staff, that has put us in position to be successful," said Spurs general manager R.C. Buford at Tuesday's press conference. "Through his hard work he's taught us the importance of pounding the rock."

Popovich received the Red Auerbach Trophy after guiding the Spurs to a Western Conference best 50-16 record this season, which also tied the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the league.

"The pace was a little bit different. We probably had to be a little more simple," said Popovich about the lockout-shortened season. "We've become a little bit more of an offensively-oriented team as we evolved. But other than that, the principles that we live by and things that we think we should pay attention to have all remained the same."

The 63-year-old coach is in his 16th season with the club, leading them to four NBA championships, including in 2002-03 when he earned his only other coach of the year honor for leading the Spurs to a 60-22 mark in the regular season.

For his career, Popovich holds a record of 847-399 over 1,246 regular-season games.

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who won the honor last year, finished second in the voting, while Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel finished third.