How Did Chris Spatola Die? ESPN Analyst and Son-in-Law of Legendary College Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski Dead at 47

Chris Spatola, the son-in-law of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who also worked on his staff from 2007 through 2012, has died unexpectedly at 47. The Krzyzewski family and ESPN, where Spatola served as a basketball analyst, confirmed his death on Tuesday night.

Spatola also played college basketball at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1998 to 2002 before joining Duke coaching staff for five years. In between he also served in the US Army. The family didn’t reveal his cause of death, but remembered him as “a devoted husband and father.” News of Spatola’s death came as a major shock across the college basketball community.

Community Shocked

Spatola’s sudden death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the college basketball community, where he had built a career spanning coaching, broadcasting and military service.

Spatola’s connection to Duke went beyond his five years as a member of Krzyzewski’s coaching staff. He married Krzyzewski’s daughter, Jamie, and the couple had three children. The Krzyzewski family described him as an important part of their family and asked for privacy as Jamie and their children cope with the loss.

A statement released by the family said: “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.”

Illustrious Career

Before moving into coaching and broadcasting, Spatola played basketball at West Point from 1998 to 2002. He was a four-year starter for Army and later served in the U.S. Army, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After leaving Duke, Spatola began his broadcasting career with ESPN and SiriusXM. He became a familiar face on college basketball telecasts and also worked alongside Krzyzewski on SiriusXM’s “Basketball and Beyond with Coach K.” SiriusXM described him as an exceptional teammate and host in a statement following his death.

Tributes quickly followed from colleagues and others around the sport. College GameDay host Rece Davis remembered Spatola as “Brilliant, funny, dedicated to his family, hoops and his crafts of coaching and broadcasting.”

Former Virginia Tech coach and ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg called the news “heartbreaking” and described Spatola as “such a good soul.”

Play-by-play announcer Matt Martucci also paid tribute, writing, “Don’t have any words right now other than that we’ve all lost a great one. The light of the world is not as bright without somebody like Chris Spatola in it. RIP to a friend, colleague, and a wonderful family man.”

ESPN analyst Terrence Oglesby added: “Hug your loved ones. I really liked Chris. Always positive when I was around him. Awful, awful news Rest in Peace.”