Chris Spatola, ESPN College Basketball Analyst, Dies at 47

Chris Spatola, the son-in-law of college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and a member of his staff from 2007 to 2012, died unexpectedly at the age of 47. The Krzyzewski family and ESPN confirmed his passing on Tuesday night. No cause of death was disclosed, but the family described Spatola as 'a devoted husband and father.' Spatola played college basketball at West Point and later served on his father-in-law’s coaching staff at Duke for five years. He worked for ESPN and hosted on SiriusXM radio. The Krzyzewski family stated, 'There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola. 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.' Spatola graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 2002, scoring 1,543 points and earning second-team All-Patriot League honors in 2001 and 2002. He served as a graduate assistant coach for Army in the 2002-03 season before going into active duty, where he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Spatola began working with Krzyzewski as a graduate assistant/head team manager and was promoted to director of basketball operations in 2008. He also served as a court coach during the 2008 Summer Olympics for the gold-medal-winning Team USA and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Spatola joined ESPN in 2015, providing game and in-studio analysis. ESPN stated, '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. 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 is survived by his wife, Jamie, and their three children, John David, Mackenzie, and Madeline.