Meet the Miami Heat Head Coach
Pat Riley
(Photo courtesy of NBA.com)
Patrick Riley was born on March 20, 1945 in Rome, New York and raised in Schenectady, New York. He is best known for his leadership role as Head Coach of the Miami Heat NBA team.
As a child, sports always played an important role in the Riley household. Riley's father, Leon, played 22 seaons in minor league baseball and made an appearance in four major league games in 19944 with the Philadelphia Phillies. In high school, Riley played for the high school basketball team at Linton High School. Aside from basketball, he also played football.
In 1966, Riley attended the University of Kentunky and joined the basketball team. A year later, he was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets, as well as drafted as a flanker by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the NFL Draft. After much decision, Riley chose to join the Rockets but later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1972, his talent and skills led him to a win at the NBA Finals. Riley decided to retire after the 1975-76 season as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
Riley continued his career in sports by later becoming a Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster. In 1981, Riley was named the official head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers where he led the team to four consecutive NBA FInals appearances. Their first win came against the Philadelphia 76ers. Other appearances in the NBA Championship Game included playing against teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets.
In 1987, Riley and his talented team of athletes including Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, finished 66-17 in their regular season and won Riley his third NBA Championship title. As head coach, he promised the city of Los Angeles that they would come back next year and win another championship. A year later, the Los Angeles Lakers became the first team in 20 years to repeat as champions, beating the Detroit Pistons in seven games. In 1990, prior to stepping down as LA Lakers head coach, Riley received the NBA Caoch of the Year Award for the first time.
Riley's next few jobs consisted of becoming a television commentator for NBC, head for the New York Knicks and more recently, the head coach of the Miami Heat. Since then, he has led the team to their only seven championship titles ranging from 1997-2000, 2005-2007.
See Pat Riley in action with one of the most highly contended basketball teams in the NBA! Get the best NBA tickets now by purchasing Miami Heat tickets before the season runs out!
