Even though his team ended up being the #2 seed in the East and came within two wins from being champs, the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra has been on the hot seat all year long. Pat Riley just confirmed that Spoelstra will be back next year.
In a wide-ranging, informal media session at AmericanAirlines arena, a relaxed Riley, in a buttoned-down blue pinstriped shirt, spoke at length about the 2010-11 team that came up short in the NBA Finals and where the franchise is headed.
Of a possible return to coaching, Riley, 66, said, “No, I’m not going to do that.”
He paused, adding, “It doesn’t mean I don’t have the fire. But we’ve got a great young coach here.”
While Riley would not discuss specifics about Spoelstra’s coaching future, he said, “Definitely we’re going to bring Erik back. As far as any long-term type of situation, that has not been discussed.”
Read more of Riley’s comments at Sun-Sentinel.com.
