Riley resigns as Heat coach, remains as club president

Pat Riley resigned Monday as coach of the Miami Heat after struggling through the worst season of his National Basketball Association career, but will remain as team president.

Riley, set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, met with Heat owner Micky Arison over the weekend to talk about the future direction of the team, which finished a league-worst 15-67 this season.

"Twenty-five years ago when I started coaching, I promised myself that if I could never give everything I have to the game, then it's time for me to step aside," Riley said.

"My first 22 years, I ground it pretty much down to a nub. The last five years I have been pretty much conflicted. Today I'm sure I don't want to continue to do this any more."

Erik Spoelstra, a Heat assistant coach, replaced Riley as the bench boss. he has worked for the club for the past 13 years.

"I just want to let everybody know how excited and honored I am to be the next coach of the Miami Heat," Spoelstra said. "I want to thank everybody for having the confidence in me to lead this team on the court and in the future."

The Heat traded Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix and watched guard Dwyane Wade struggle with nagging injuries and slid to the bottom of the NBA two years after winning the league title.

"I understand the challenge that's ahead of us," Spoelstra said. "I look forward to the challenge and I want to bring back the success we're accustomed to here in Miami."

Riley, 63, took over for Stan Van Gundy 21 games into the 2005-2006 season and guided the Heat to an NBA title, but this year's Heat matched their 1989-1999 inaugural version for the worst record in club history.

Riley has a 1,210-694 regular-season record and five NBA titles to his credit over 25 seasons. He made an earlier break in 2003 but said there was no way he would return to the bench again.

"I am officially retired," Riley said. "I'm very excited about this day and moving forward. The move we're going to make is definitely in the best interest of the Heat."

That means Riley turns over the rebuilding of the club to an enthusiastic Spoelstra.

"We're hiring Erik to get a result," Riley said. "He's a man we can trust. He is highly confident. He's a man that is reliable. When you look at the game today, it's about men like Erik who are very talented and trustworthy with a good work ethic."

The move came less than nine months after Riley said he would coach the Heat for three more seasons, but only three months after he admitted the dual tasks of coach and administrator were wearing upon him.

Riley left the team late this season to scout top college prospects, the Heat having the strongest chance at claiming the top pick in June's NBA Draft.

In the 2006-2007 campaing, Riley missed 22 games in the middle of the season to undergo hip and knee operations. He had also handed the reins to van Gundy to start the 2003-2004 season saying he needed a break but returned for the title run.

Riley, who guided the Los Angeles Lakers to four NBA crowns in the 1980s, posted a 454-395 record in 11 seasons with the Heat. He has also coached the New York Knicks.