ESPN analyst, former Duke assistant Chris Spatola dies at 47

ESPN college basketball analyst and former Duke assistant coach Chris Spatola died unexpectedly on Monday, the network announced. 

He was 47. Specifics of his death are not known.

“Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN’s college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster,” ESPN said in a statement. “He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Spatola spent four years playing at Army from 1998-2002, and was a four-year starter with the program while earning a pair of All-Patriot League nods. He served in the U.S. Army after graduation, and later joined longtime Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s staff as an assistant in 2007. 

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Spatola was with the Blue Devils through 2012, and was on staff when they won the national championship in 2010. He joined ESPN and SiriusXM soon after, and has been an analyst ever since. He frequently called games for ESPN and was a regular game analyst for them each season.

Spatola was Krzyzewski’s son-in-law, too. He married Krzyzewski’s daughter, Jamie, and the pair had three children together. 

“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola,” the Krzyzewski family said in a statement through Duke, via The Duke Basketball Roundup’s Jason Evans. “Chris served our country, was a devoted husband and father, and was such an important part of our family. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time. We respectfully ask for privacy as our entire family, particularly Jamie and her three beautiful children, grieve and process this unimaginable loss.”

Several of Spatola’s ESPN colleagues and others in the college basketball world took to social media to honor him on Tuesday…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/article/espn-analyst-former-duke-assistant-chris-spatola-dies-at-47-005655841.html

Author : Ryan Young

Publish date : 2026-09-23 00:56:00

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