Chris Spatola, the son-in-law of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and a member of his staff from 2007 to 2012, died suddenly at the age of 47.
The tragic passing was confirmed on Tuesday night by the Krzyzewski family and ESPN, where Spatola worked as a basketball analyst.
Before moving into broadcasting, Spatola was a starting guard for the Army Black Knights. He later became an assistant coach at Duke, where he worked under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, his father-in-law.
"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," the statement continued.
No cause of death was revealed, but a statement by the family described Spatola as “a devoted husband and father.”
Spatola played college basketball at West Point before serving on his father-in-law’s coaching staff at Duke for five years. He then worked for ESPN and hosted on SiriusXM radio.
“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola,” the Krzyzewski family statement read.
“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,” it added.
Spatola graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 2002 and started all four seasons on the basketball team, finishing with 1,543 points and earning second-team All-Patriot League honors in 2001 and ’02.
