The Coyote (mascot)
San Antonio Spurs mascot and T-Shirt Cannon inventor.
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The San Antonio Spurs’ official mascot, a coyote, debuted at an NBA game on April 13, 1983. He is famous for slapstick humor, including skits with the Silver Dancers, playful interruptions of referees during timeouts, and stunts like riding a unicycle, pretending to remove his eyes, and dribbling a basketball with his feet or spinning it on a pen. Off the court, he makes over 400 community appearances each year—more than any other NBA mascot—and has appeared in local TV commercials and on national shows like *Live with Regis and Kathie Lee*. The character was created by Tim Derk, who performed as the Coyote for 21 years, appearing in over 1,100 games and making more than 4,000 community appearances before a stroke ended his run on February 13, 2004. Derk is credited with inventing the T-Shirt Cannon; six months later, he became the Spurs’ Manager of Mascot Development. The Coyote was named Best Mascot of the Year by Gameops.com in 2006, inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007, and voted Best Mascot of the Year by fellow mascots in 2014 and 2020.
- Field
- Sports mascot
- Known for
- Official mascot of the San Antonio Spurs; inventor of the T-Shirt Cannon; Mascot Hall of Fame inductee
Lore & Background
The Coyote was first introduced in public at a San Antonio Spurs game on April 13, 1983. He is known for his slapstick comedy routine, including impromptu interactions with game officials during time-outs, rehearsed skits and dance numbers with the Silver Dancers (the Spurs cheerleading team), as well as for his trick-filled antics, such as riding a unicycle, pulling his eyes off, dribbling a ball with his feet, or spinning a ball on a pen.
Outside of his presence at games, the Coyote performs at over 400 community appearances per year, which is noted as being more than any other mascot in the NBA. Over the years he has also been featured in numerous local San Antonio area TV commercials and appeared on national morning shows, including Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
The Coyote concept was created by Tim Derk, who also performed the role for the first 21 years — appearing in more than 1,100 games and making over 4,000 community appearances — before suffering a stroke that forced him to leave the job on February 13, 2004. During his time as Coyote, Derk was credited with inventing the T-Shirt Cannon. Derk went on to be named Manager of Mascot Development by Spurs Sports & Entertainment six months later.
Reader's Guide
The Coyote holds significance as a pioneering NBA mascot, noted for his high volume of community appearances—over 400 per year, more than any other NBA mascot. His creation by Tim Derk, who performed the role for 21 years, led to the invention of the T-Shirt Cannon, a staple at sporting events worldwide. The Coyote's induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007, along with multiple Best Mascot of the Year awards (2005 by Gameops.com, and in 2014 and 2020 by fellow mascots), underscores his lasting impact on sports entertainment. His legacy includes not only on-court antics but also extensive community engagement and national television exposure, cementing his place as a beloved figure in San Antonio and beyond.
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