ESPN honors Chris Spatola with tribute during Army-Duke broadcast

The death of Chris Spatola was felt across sports media when the tragic news broke in late September.

Spatola, a beloved college basketball analyst at ESPN, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 21, according to his obituary, and is survived by his wife, Jamie, and their three children. He was 47.

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The lasting grief permeated ESPN’s broadcast during halftime of Duke’s season-opening win over Army on Monday.

After a touching 70-second video montage, ESPN cameras panned to Spatola’s family in attendance at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

“Chris gone at 47,” ESPN play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien said. “His family in the stands. Many of them here, like Jamie right there, for Army and Duke. Jay Bilas, more than a colleague for you. This was a friend, a very close friend.”

“Close friend,” Bilas said. “Chris Spatola—pardon my language—was a bada**. He served our country as a decorated combat veteran. He was an outstanding player at West Point. He was a four-year starter, scored over 1,500 points, and was an outstanding coach here under Mike Krzyzewski. Helped Duke win a national championship in 2010 with Jon Scheyer as Duke’s point guard for that championship season.”

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Spatola married Jamie, Krzyzewski’s daughter, in 2004. After serving five years in the United States Army, Krzyzewski hired Spatola in 2007, quickly earning a promotion to director of basketball operations in May 2008. Spatola remained on the Duke men’s basketball staff through 2012, and he joined ESPN in 2015.

Bilas continued:

“But Chris was an incredibly thoughtful human being and well read. He and his wife, Jamie, just a beautiful couple. A devoted husband, father. I just can’t say enough positive things about him. He was selfless in every way.

“You know, Dave, we both worked with him and knew him. Chris never led with his accomplishments. He had an uncommon humility to him. For him, it was about the players and the coaches and all that. He wasn’t talking about himself, and he had a lot to talk…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/espn-honors-chris-spatola-tribute-133055322.html

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Publish date : 2026-11-03 13:30:00

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