
Mike Tomlin Takes the Lead as Longest-Serving Coach in Major U.S. Sports
With Gregg Popovich stepping down, Mike Tomlin now holds the title of the longest-tenured active coach in the major professional sports leagues in the United States.
With the recent announcement of Gregg Popovich stepping down from his position as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Mike Tomlin has taken over as the longest-tenured active coach across the four major U.S. sports leagues. Popovich’s impressive 29-year tenure as the Spurs’ coach has come to an end, leading to Tomlin’s ascension in the ranks.
Tomlin has been at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007, making him now the leader in longevity in his role among major leagues.
Meanwhile, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat now holds the distinction of the longest-tenured coach in the NBA since he started in 2008. The coaching landscape has drastically changed, with Popovich overseeing 303 coaching changes throughout his tenure, compared to teams that averaged over 10 changes during the same period.
Popovich has achieved a historic career total of 1,422 regular-season wins, solidifying his place as the all-time leader in NBA coaching victories. With the competition heating up, Milwaukee’s Rivers, Rick Carlisle, and Erik Spoelstra now vie for the ongoing coaching victory records among active coaches.