Erik Spoelstra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Erik Spoelstra

Spoelstra at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Miami Heat
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1970-11-01) November 1, 1970 (age 54) Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
High school	Jesuit (Beaverton, Oregon)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
College	Portland (1988–1992)
NBA Draft	1992 / Undrafted
Pro career	1993–1995
Coaching career	1993–present
League	NBA
Career history
As player:
1993–1995	TuS Herten
As coach:
1993–1995	TuS Herten (assistant)
1997–2008	Miami Heat (assistant)
2008–present	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
As player: WCC Freshman of the Year (1989) As head coach: 2× NBA champion (2012, 2013) 2× NBA All-Star Game head coach (2013, 2022) NBCA Co-Coach of the Year (2017) Top 15 Coaches in NBA History As assistant coach: NBA champion (2006)
Medals Assistant coach for  United States Men's national basketball team Olympic Games Gold 2024 Paris Team

Erik Jon Spoelstra (born November 1, 1970), often called "Coach Spo", is an American professional basketball coach. He is the head coach for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also helps coach the United States men's national basketball team.

Many people think he is one of the best basketball coaches ever. Coach Spo has won two NBA championships with the Heat. He is also the first Asian American head coach to win an NBA title and lead a team in any of the major North American sports leagues.

Before becoming a coach, Spoelstra played college basketball for the Portland Pilots. He then played and coached in Germany. He worked as an assistant coach and director of scouting for the Heat from 2001 to 2008. During this time, the team won the 2006 NBA Finals.

Spoelstra became the Heat's head coach in the 2008–09 season. The Heat have reached the NBA Finals six times with him as coach. They won championships in 2012 and 2013. As of 2025, Spoelstra has been the longest-serving active NBA head coach with one team.

Early Life and Education

Erik Spoelstra was born in Evanston, Illinois, which is near Chicago. His father, Jon Spoelstra, was an NBA executive for several teams. His mother, Elisa Celino, is from the Philippines. Erik's grandfather, Watson Spoelstra, was a sportswriter for The Detroit News.

As a child, Erik lived in Buffalo, New York, before moving to Portland, Oregon, in the late 1970s. He went to Raleigh Hills Elementary and Whitford Jr. High School. Then he attended Jesuit High School in Beaverton, Oregon. There, he was a great point guard on the basketball team.

He wore number 30 in high school and college. This was to honor Terry Porter, a Trail Blazer player he admired. Before his senior year, Spoelstra went to a special Nike All-Star camp. He played alongside future NBA stars like Alonzo Mourning and Shawn Kemp.

College Basketball Career

Spoelstra received basketball scholarships and chose to attend the University of Portland. In 1989, he was named the West Coast Conference (WCC) Freshman of the Year. He was the starting point guard for the Pilots for four years. He averaged 9.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.

He is one of the school's players who scored over 1,000 points. He is also among the Pilots' all-time leaders in several stats. Spoelstra studied communications and graduated from the University of Portland in 1992.

Professional Playing Career

Playing for TuS Herten (1993–1995)

After college, Spoelstra first worked at a Nike warehouse. He had wanted to play basketball in the Philippines, but the paperwork was delayed. So, he went to Germany instead. He spent two years (1993–1995) playing for TuS Herten. This was a professional club in Germany's second basketball division.

He was a player and an assistant coach for the team. He also got his first head coaching job there, leading the club's youth team. After his second year, Spoelstra started having back problems. In 1995, TuS Herten offered him another two-year contract. But the NBA's Miami Heat also offered him a job. Spoelstra chose to join the Heat.

Coaching Career with the Miami Heat

Starting as an Assistant Coach (1995–2008)

In 1995, the Miami Heat hired Spoelstra as their video coordinator. This job involved watching and analyzing game videos. Soon after, Pat Riley became the Heat's head coach. Erik's father, Jon Spoelstra, said that if Riley had been allowed to bring his own video person, Erik might not have gotten the job.

After two years, Spoelstra became an assistant coach and video coordinator. In 1999, he was promoted to assistant coach and advance scout. By 2001, he was the Heat's assistant coach and director of scouting. Many people say his hard work helped him move up in the Heat's coaching staff.

As an assistant coach, he helped improve Heat star Dwyane Wade's balance and jump shot. Spoelstra won his first NBA championship as an assistant coach in 2006. The Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals.

Becoming Head Coach and Early Challenges (2008–2011)

Spoelstra presents a team trophy to President Barack Obama in January 2014.

In April 2008, Pat Riley stepped down as head coach and chose Spoelstra to take his place. Riley said that the game now needed younger coaches who were good with technology and had new ideas. He felt Erik Spoelstra was perfect for the job.

Spoelstra became the first Asian American head coach in the NBA. He was also the first Asian American head coach in any of the four major North American sports leagues. In his first year, he led the Heat to the NBA Playoffs. This was a big improvement, as the team had a very bad record the season before. However, the Heat lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks. They made the playoffs again the next year but lost to the Boston Celtics.

Expectations for the team grew very high in 2010. This was because star players LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the Heat. The team started the 2010–11 season with a tough 9–8 record. Some players were reportedly unhappy with Spoelstra. There were even rumors that he might be replaced.

However, the team improved and made it to the playoffs with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Spoelstra led the Heat to the 2011 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Dallas Mavericks. Even after this loss, Pat Riley supported Spoelstra as the head coach. In December 2011, Spoelstra received a new contract that lasted through the 2013–14 season.

Winning Back-to-Back Championships (2011–2013)

Spoelstra (in front) at an away game between the Heat and Pacers during the playoffs, May 2012

In the next season, Spoelstra again guided the Heat to the playoffs. They faced tough challenges, coming back from behind against the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics. They reached the 2012 NBA Finals even though Chris Bosh was injured for several games.

Spoelstra's Heat then defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games to win the NBA championship. He became the first Asian American head coach to win an NBA championship. He was also the second Heat head coach to win a title. He became the only Miami Heat head coach to lead the team to the NBA Finals multiple times.

During the 2012–13 season, Spoelstra was chosen to coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game. This was because the Heat had the best record in the Eastern Conference. He then led the Heat on an amazing 27-game winning streak. This was the third longest winning streak in NBA history.

The team made the playoffs as the top seed with the best overall record in the NBA. After easily winning their first playoff series, the Heat won a tough seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers. They then advanced to face the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals. The Heat defeated the Spurs in seven games, winning their second straight NBA championship.

Later Years and Continued Success (2013–Present)

On September 29, 2013, the Heat extended Spoelstra's contract for several more years. He led the Heat to the 2014 NBA Finals, becoming only the third coach to lead his team to four straight Finals. However, the Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games that time.

On December 16, 2017, Spoelstra earned his 455th win as the Heat's head coach. This meant he passed Pat Riley for the most wins in franchise history. He was also named the NBCA Co-Coach of the Year for the 2016–17 season. This was after he led the Heat to a great record in the second half of that season.

During the 2019–20 season, Spoelstra coached the Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 28, 2021, Spoelstra got his 600th win as the Heat's head coach. He became the sixth head coach in NBA history to win 600 games with one team. In February 2022, he was named the Eastern Conference head coach for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

On March 13, 2023, Spoelstra won his 697th game, placing him 20th on the all-time wins list for NBA head coaches. During the 2022–23 season, Spoelstra coached the Heat, who were the 8th seed, all the way to the 2023 NBA Finals. This was his sixth appearance as head coach in the Finals. However, they lost the series to the Denver Nuggets.

Personal Life

Erik Spoelstra married Nikki Sapp in July 2016. They have three children together. In November 2023, the couple divorced.

Head Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Erik Spoelstra para niños