Pat Riley to coach the Miami Heat for THREE more seasons...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Pat Riley: I'll coach three more seasons

By Ira Winderman | Sun-Sentinel.com
3:17 PM EDT, August 13, 2007

Pat Riley said Monday he will return as Heat coach next season -- and the following two seasons, as well.

"I've decided that I'm going to coach another three years, the terms of my contract, and that's why it's taken so long for me to make this decision," he said. "I don't want to be a one-and-done guy every year. I have three years left on my contract and I will coach those out . . . unless somebody else makes a decision on me.

"I'm going to keep moving forward with it."

Pat Riley speaks (finally)... we listen
Riley, who had left his status open-ended since his team was swept out of the first round of the playoffs in April, had been weighing the possibility of moving back to a full-time position solely as team president.

Asked about his future in the immediate wake of his team's postseason ineptitude against the Bulls, Riley only would say at the time, "We've got a lot of time."

Then, asked in May, after reports indicated he had already decided to return, Riley feigned a yawn, as if the topic was not worthy of being immediately addressed, and said, "I'm just getting ready for the draft and free agency."

In June, he only would offer, "I'm just continuing to build this team, but I don't want to make that decision right now. I've been here 12 years, whether I'm coaching or making decisions, I'm just going to build this team."

Until Monday, the only certainty Riley had offered was he would fulfill his front-office contract with the team, which runs through 2010. Now he will remain in a dual role.

While Riley guided the Heat to a 44-38 finish and Southeast Division championship last season, he left the team for 22 games at midseason to undergo hip and knee surgeries. The Heat went 13-9 under interim coach Ron Rothstein during that hiatus, moving back into the playoff picture after a 13-17 start under Riley.

It was the second time Riley had abruptly left the Heat bench, having handed the reins to assistant coach Stan Van Gundy four days before the start of the 2003-04 season, citing a need for a break from the game.

Riley then returned early in the 2005-06 season, guiding the franchise to its lone NBA championship.

Riley, 62, has a 439-328 record in his 10 seasons as Heat coach, and a 1,195-627 overall record in 23 seasons as coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat.

Last month, center Alonzo Mourning said one of the factors in his decision to return for a final season in 2007-08 was his hope that Riley would return, as well.

"I think he's got an incredible basketball mind and he wants to continue to share it with the world and with this team and I don't see him retiring now," Mourning said after his annual charity weekend. "We started together and hopefully we can end it together."

Seven NBA coaching vacancies have been filled this offseason as Riley deliberated his 2007-08 status.

Riley, however, had repeatedly said the timing of his decision would not impact the team's ability to select a successor, stating a preference to eventually promote a member of his staff to the lead position.

In June, Riley declined a request by Van Gundy, now Magic coach, to interview members of the Heat coaching staff for possible work with the Orlando staff. Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra is widely believed to be Riley's in-house choice as his eventual successor.

Riley has not coached the Heat for a complete, 82-game season since going 25-57 in 2002-03.




For what? No more championships in Miami for AT LEAST another 10 years...

[GangstaBoogy]

Yeah like I said in the other thread, I don't understand wtf they're doing over there. If Pat Riley is smart he'll start building that team around Wade for the future and give up in this win now plan.

[wcsoldier]

^^^^ they need some young fellas out there .. outside Haslem, Wade and Wright , pretty much all players are washed up ... Miami Heat or when the concept of getting experienced players has gone WAY too far ...

[Don Jacob]

^^^^ they need some young fellas out there .. outside Haslem, Wade and Wright , pretty much all players are washed up ... Miami Heat or when the concept of getting experienced players has gone WAY too far ...

it's like i said they're the new oakland raiders.

[ManInCharge]

this is a good thing.  riley already won a title with wade and im sure he will win some more in the next three years.

[rik]

Eh, he ain't winning shit anytime soon, so what's the point?

[WC Iz Active]

The Heat are worse off then my Pacers

[Don Jacob]

The Heat are worse off then my Pacers

not really. the heat will probably make the playoffs.. i don't see the pacers really doing that unless they trade jermain o'neal to the lakers for bynum, brown, Crittenton, and some change. 

[WC Iz Active]

^^Pacers arent trading JO!!  He said he wants to stay.  Jermaine sorrounded by Tinsley, Marquis Daniels, Granger, Foster, Murphy, Dunleavy, K. Rush, Shawne Williams is just as good as the Miami Heat.

[Don Jacob]

i wouldn't say that. the heat have experience and leadership. the pacers might be younger but the heat have people who know how to win. they also have two players who can score at will.

[WC Iz Active]

i wouldn't say that. the heat have experience and leadership. the pacers might be younger but the heat have people who know how to win. they also have two players who can score at will.

Id say both teams have alot of work to do. but imo current Pacers>>Miami Heat

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Don't diss Jake's Heat...


on the real, though, Indiana and Miami are currently on the same caliber...

[Don Jacob]

Don't diss Jake's Heat...

nut hugger

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

...says the guy who opens threads about other men in the sports section.

[Don Jacob]

^ lol says the guy who opens threads about other men in the sports section

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