Apr 28, 2008 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Riley Steps Down, Names Assistant New Heat Coach
Names Assistant Erik Spoelstra as his replacement
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Heat team president Pat Riley announced he will step down as head coach.
Victor Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
Pat Riley has resigned as head coach of the Miami Heat. The announcement comes after his post-season meeting with Heat owner Micky Arlson.
"I made a point 25-years ago when I started coaching, made a point to myself and a promise that if I could never give everything that I have to the game that I need to give, then I know it's time for me to step aside," Riley said.
Riley will remain as team president to help oversee the team's rebuilding after a dramatic decline in last season. Assistant Erik Spoelstra becomes the youngest coach in the NBA at the age of 37. He started his career in 1995 in the Heat video room.
"I believe Erik is one of the most talented young coaches to come around in a long time," Riley said during his press conference.
Spoelstra already has more than one important supporter. "I believe in Coach Spo and have complete confidence that our team will succeed with him at the helm," Heat guard Dwayne Wade said.
The 2007-2008 team was quite possibly one of the worst teams ever in the NBA. For his part, Riley has only gone through a sub-.500 season twice before in his career. One of those times, Riley decided to retire just before the start of the 2003-2004 season. He eventually came back for the 2005-2006 season to lead the team to the NBA Championship.
"In the best interest of the team, I don't believe that I could give them my very best, and that it wasn't there like it was before, and you gotta be excessively warped," said Riley, as he laughed and patted Spoelstra on the back. "And we got one right here."
Since winning the championship, the Heat has gone 58-109 in regular season and playoff games.
The team seemed to almost quit on the coach after the losses of C Alonzo Mourning, F Udonis Haslem, G Dwyane Wade to injuries and the trade of the former franchise player, Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns.
Still, Riley left the door open for the future, "Today, I am definitely sure that I don't want to do this anymore." He once left the coaching ranks before, only to decide to coach the team to the NBA Finals in 2005-2006.
Theoretically, the Heat should have a great chance of landing the number one pick in the NBA Draft over the summer. However, the team with the worst record doesn't automatically get the first pick, as the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies have found out in the past few years.
Riley's overall record is 1,210-694.
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