Pat Riley steps down as Heat coach

[RenegadeLonghorn]

MIAMI -- 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.

ESPN Article

This season was an epic fail, but he still won the NBA title.

[Hamels35]

As long as Wade will be healthy next season, along with Marion, they will easily make the playoffs with the East as weak as it is.

[garnett_21]

this is somewhat surprising to me....not super surprising, just slightly

myers - that's what people said for this year...they'll easily make the playoffs with Shaq, Wade, Haslem and others....and what happened? 15 wins!! wooo hooo! lol

[molly1984]

they had a lot of injuries at the end of the year too.... interesting that they are going with a first time head coach. their expectations for next year can't be too high.

[angel0430]

I don't think that they are going to be in the playoffs for at least two more years. And I don't think that Wade is going to be healthy.

[blalock_collector]

It all revolves around D Wade. If he is healthy, they will be in the playoffs.