On Sunday night, the regular season portion of the WNBA’s historic 20th season came to a close, bringing with it the end of one of the most prolific coaching careers the league has ever seen. No one in the WNBA has ever coached more games than Dan Hughes, who on Sunday in San Antonio, patrolled the sidelines for the 564th, and final time.

The Stars’ loss at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury ended what was an injury-spoiled season, as the Stars once again failed to make the playoffs. But as Hughes–who is also the team’s GM–hands the organizational reins to Ruth Riley, he leaves the franchise in what he believes is a good place, both on and off the court.

“It reminds me of the first couple of years I was here,” Hughes told WNBA.com about the Stars’ last two seasons. “And then we were in the playoffs seven out of the next eight years.”

In Hughes’ first two seasons in charge in San Antonio–2005 and 2006 –the Stars won just 20 games combined, but then didn’t miss the playoffs again until 2013. Similarly, over the last two years, the Stars have won just 15 games, but with Kayla McBride and Moriah Jefferson leading the way, figure to enter 2017 with plenty of skilled players on the roster.

Along with the young talent on the court, the Stars will also have new management with Ruth Riley taking full control as GM. The former Stars player spent the year shadowing Hughes in preparation for the transition, and along the way impressed her former coach.

“I think she brings a diverse array of talents. She’s got the ability to capture the culture that I think is part of San Antonio,” said Hughes. “She has the ability to not only come at it from the standpoint of her experience as a player, her experience as a person who has been heavily involved with the WNBA and the NBA.”

He concluded, “She just has great insights already into how to do it in a way that represents the Spurs culture, the Stars culture.”

No one knows more about the Stars culture than Hughes, who has been with the organization since 2005, serving as head coach every year except 2010, when he was only the GM. Six of the team’s nine playoff appearances have been under Hughes, including their only trip to the WNBA Finals, in 2008. He holds the franchise record with 169 wins, and won the Coach of the Year Award for leading the team to a 20-14 record in 2007.

For his service, the Stars honored Hughes with a postgame ceremony following his final game Sunday, paying homage not only to a brilliant basketball coach, but one of the finest people in the game.

#12 pic.twitter.com/Ik3hAsbLEt

— San Antonio Stars (@SAStars) September 19, 2016

"We've been blessed with one of the greatest coaches in @WNBA but more importantly a great person." – R. C. Buford pic.twitter.com/skcOLrW6IF

— San Antonio Stars (@SAStars) September 18, 2016

As Hughes steps away from the WNBA, his legacy is a lasting one, even if he may not receive the same kind of national recognition as others. Few have been around the league as long as Hughes, who began coaching in 1999 with the Charlotte Sting, then moved on to lead the Cleveland Rockers, where he won the 2001 Coach of the Year Award; neither of those teams are still in existence. For nearly two decades, Hughes has been a quiet leader, helping the league establish itself and grow into the product it’s become.

“I think the thing that I’m kind of thankful that I was around in three franchises in the formative years,” Hughes reflected. “I got to see the beginnings of this product called the WNBA. I got to see the evolution on the court and the evolution of people growing up and having the WNBA to look towards.”

Hughes continued, “I think the players continue to get better and better. As a coach, some of the strategies that served me well in the early years had to change, because they players got better and better. I think it’s in wonderful hands for the future.”

With the likes of Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne, and Breanna Stewart leading the way, the league is indeed in wonderful hands for the future. The Stars, specifically, are as well, with Ruth Riley stepping forward to take control. And thus, Hughes can step down in peace, knowing he left the league a better place than when he found it.

Although leaving the WNBA now isn’t a goodbye from basketball for Hughes. Next year, he’ll turn to broadcasting collegiate games, both men’s and women’s, but after that, he’s not quite sure what the future holds. One thing’s for certain though, whatever path he decides to take, he’ll never be far from a gym.

“I’m a basketball lifer,” Hughes said. “There’s just no doubt, there’s really no doubt that basketball has to be a daily part of my life.”