Longtime San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich blasted U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, Sunday, calling him a “silly small man” who “gives coaches a bad name” for his policy of blocking military promotions over abortion policy.

Andrew Lopez, an NBA reporter for ESPN, posted a transcript of the comments on Twitter.

“I think he gives coaches a bad name,” Popovich said. “They’re going to think we’re all ignorant because what he’s doing is ignorant.”

Efforts to reach a spokesperson for Tuberville on Sunday were not immediately successful.

Popovich, who has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump in the past, said Tuberville’s position has hurt national security and military families.

“It seems like he’s auditioning for a job in case a certain person becomes president again,” Popovich said. “He’s doing a great audition because that kind of thing is exactly what Trump would love.”

Tuberville recently said he had the same workload as a college football head coach as the Marine Corps commandant, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Tuberville began tabling all votes on officer promotions about nine months ago, stalling hundreds of job candidates.

He began it as a protest of a policy that allows members of the military to seek assistance for abortions if they live in a state where the procedure is illegal.

Popovich said Tuberville is holding up the promotions to get attention.

“He looks like the cat who ate the canary,” Popovich said.

“He’s got a smirk on his face all the time. Like he’s got something you can’t have. So that’s why I say he gives coaches a bad name and he’s hurting our country. He’s a silly small man.”