RILEY'S HIGHLIGHTS
3 Coach of the Year awards won by Pat Riley (Los Angeles Lakers -- 1990; New York Knicks -- 1993; Miami Heat -- 1997). He is the only coach in history to win the award with three different teams.5 NBA championships won by Riley-coached teams (Los Angeles Lakers -- 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988; Miam Heat -- 2006).10Top coaches in NBA history, a group to which Riley was voted in 1996, along with Red Auerbach, Chuck Daly, Bill Fitch, Red Holzman, Phil Jackson, John Kundla, Don Nelson, Jack Ramsay and Lenny Wilkens.171 Playoff wins by Riley, which ranks second in NBA history. Current Lakers coach Jackson (179-77) ranks No. 1.1,210 Regular-season victories by Riley, which ranks third in NBA history. The retired Wilkens (1,332-1,155) and current Golden State Warriors coach Nelson (1,232-920) are Nos. 1-2, respectively.It has become one of Pat Riley's best stories from his worst season.
It starts with Riley looking over the ledge of his Los Angeles hotel-room balcony late one January night in the middle of a frustrating Miami Heat losing streak. Just when Riley is at his most depressed moment, he hears his wife's voice in the suite.
''Don't do it,'' Chris Riley told her husband. ``It's just not worth it.''
Riley jokes that he didn't take the plunge then. But after arguably the most bittersweet season of his illustrious career, Riley is making the jump now -- back upstairs to his role solely as Heat president.
Riley announced as expected Monday that he has resigned as coach and has promoted assistant Erik Spoelstra to run the team. Riley, 63, has twice stepped away from the bench since 2003 only to return in dual roles as president and coach. But he said this time he is done for good; this time, it's for real.
''I made a point 25 years ago when I started coaching -- a promise to myself -- that if I could never give everything that I had to the game, it's time for me to step aside,'' Riley said, sitting at a podium beside Spoelstra and Heat owner Micky Arison. ``I am definitely sure I don't want to do this anymore.''
Spoelstra, 37, has agreed to a multiyear contract believed to be in the range of three to four years. Spoelstra is the sixth coach in the franchise's 20-year history and the youngest head coach in the NBA.
Spoelstra has been with the Heat for 13 seasons, including the past seven as an assistant coach.
He was long considered to be Riley's successor. But he has enormous shoes to fill and an even greater task ahead.
Riley's announcement comes on the heels of his postseason meeting with Arison after the Heat finished an NBA-worst 15-67, tying the worst mark in team history. One of the season's few highlights came this month when Riley was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, with a September induction.
During the meeting with Arison last week, Riley recommended Spoelstra for the job and left for his California home to think more about the decision.
The Heat closed its administrative offices Wednesday afternoon and didn't reopen until Monday morning.
Spoelstra and Arison had another round of talks late last week and the job was offered over the weekend.
''I came away from our meeting feeling really good,'' Arison said of Spoelstra. ``I'm confident he will do a good job. I'm hoping for not just a good coach, but a great coach.''
Spoelstra is following one of the greatest in NBA history. Despite the Heat's recent struggles, Riley's career has been defined by success.
His 1,210 career victories rank third all time, and he has coached teams to five NBA titles, including a 2006 championship with the Heat. But the Heat has gone just 59-105 since then.
After the Heat's season-ending victory against Atlanta on April 16, Riley talked about being reenergized by leading Miami through an offseason makeover as president.
STAYING INVOLVED
The Heat, with the NBA's worst record, has a 46.5 percent chance to land one of the top two picks in the May 20 draft lottery. Riley said he considered retiring from both roles but decided he still wanted to be involved with the organization. Riley said he informed three of the Heat's team leaders, including Dwyane Wade, of his decision to step down.
Wade was supportive of Riley's transition back to the front office.
''I've seen him do the necessary things to make us winners,'' Wade said. ``And I believe that with his focus on being president -- and his commitment to the team -- we will once again become a contender.''
Riley said his arms-length approach would be similar to when he stepped away as coach a week before the start of the 2003-04 season and promoted Stan Van Gundy.
Van Gundy coached the team for 2 ½ seasons before he resigned early in the 2005-06 season amid speculation of a rocky relationship with center Shaquille O'Neal and pressure from Riley. Riley then stepped back in as coach and led the Heat to a title.
`IN THE BACKGROUND'
''I'll be way in the background looking over shoulders,'' Riley said. ``My job is to bring in the best players we can. His is to coach. Erik is standing on his own two feet. We've hired Erik to get a result.''
Spoelstra takes over facing playoff expectations with an expected nucleus of Wade, Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem returning along with a top-four pick in the June 26 NBA Draft.
But Riley said Spoelstra could have success as a rookie coach if the Heat avoids the devastating injuries that shut down five of the team's top players before the end of the season.
''I understand the challenge ahead,'' Spoelstra said. ``I'm energized by it.''
After a coaching career that has spanned 2,186 regular-season and playoff games, Riley was at the opposite end of the energy spectrum as he walked away Monday, escorted by daughter Elisabeth down a back hallway after the news conference.
''I'm tired,'' Riley said. ``No regrets.''
