Chris Spatola, an ESPN college basketball analyst, has died, the network announced Tuesday. He was 47.
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.
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“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.
Spatola led Army in scoring in three of his four seasons as a starter. He finished his college career with 1,543 points, placing him among Army’s top 10 all-time scorers.
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After graduating from Army, Spatola entered a new chapter of service, spending five years on active duty from 2002 through 2007.
He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for exceptional combat performance. Spatola’s outstanding leadership was also recognized with the Army Commendation Medal.
Spatola served on Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching staff at Duke from 2007 through 2012. During that span, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Division I men’s basketball national championship, with Spatola serving as an assistant coach.
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Krzyzewski also led the U.S. men’s national basketball team to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Spatola worked as a court coach.