Spurs' Popovich is NBA Coach of the Year

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NEW YORK, May 1 (UPI) -- Gregg Popovich, whose San Antonio Spurs tied the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the NBA this season, has been voted the NBA Coach of the Year.

It is the second Coach of the Year award for Popovich, 63. He also won after the 2003 season when the Spurs won the second of four NBA championships under Popovich.

San Antonio led the NBA Western Conference with a 50-16 record, which, at .758, is a better winning percentage than his .732 (60-22) in 2002-03.

The NBA Coach of the Year is determined by a vote of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

Popovich received 77 first-place votes and 467 total points in the voting. Chicago's Tom Thibodeau, with 27 first-place votes and 315 points, was second while Indiana's Frank Vogel (seven first-place mentions, 161 points) was third.

Popovich is in his 16th season in San Antonio and has built an 847-399 record for a .680 winning percentage. The Spurs won NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.