Riley steps down as Heat coach

SeanTaylor21 · 04-28-2008, 07:26 PM

ESPN - Riley steps down as Heat coach, will be replaced by assistant Spoelstra - NBA

Pat Riley's worst season as coach of the Miami Heat will be his last.

The Hall of Famer resigned as coach Monday but remains team president. Erik Spoelstra, a 37-year-old assistant, will succeed Riley and become the NBA's youngest current coach. Spoelstra has never been a head coach at any level outside the NBA's summer league.

Miami finished the season with the NBA's poorest record (15-67) and, by far, the worst of Riley's 25-year career.

"I look forward to the challenge," said Spoelstra, who received word of the decision over the weekend.

As president, Riley will continue overseeing the plan to rebuild a franchise that's just two years removed from a championship, after deciding that he'd best benefit the franchise by working exclusively from the front office.

Rank Riley among the top coaches in the history of the NBA

ESPN: SportsNation Polling - 3470 - SportsNation

Where does everyone rank him in, the top 20, 10 , 5?

04-28-2008, 07:26 PM	#1
SeanTaylor21 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Herndon, Virginia Age: 31 Posts: 445	Riley steps down as Heat coach ESPN - Riley steps down as Heat coach, will be replaced by assistant Spoelstra - NBA Pat Riley's worst season as coach of the Miami Heat will be his last. The Hall of Famer resigned as coach Monday but remains team president. Erik Spoelstra, a 37-year-old assistant, will succeed Riley and become the NBA's youngest current coach. Spoelstra has never been a head coach at any level outside the NBA's summer league. Miami finished the season with the NBA's poorest record (15-67) and, by far, the worst of Riley's 25-year career. "I look forward to the challenge," said Spoelstra, who received word of the decision over the weekend. As president, Riley will continue overseeing the plan to rebuild a franchise that's just two years removed from a championship, after deciding that he'd best benefit the franchise by working exclusively from the front office. Rank Riley among the top coaches in the history of the NBA ESPN: SportsNation Polling - 3470 - SportsNation Where does everyone rank him in, the top 20, 10 , 5? __________________ “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6...rmationgg7.jpg http://www.thehogs.net/sean-taylor/burgundy_heart.jpg

Riley steps down as Heat coach

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