Chris Spatola, ESPN college basketball analyst, dies suddenly at 47
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- ESPN college basketball analyst Chris Spatola, a former West Point guard and Army combat veteran, died unexpectedly at age 47, ESPN announced on Tuesday without disclosing the cause of death.
- Spatola was the son-in-law of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and had been with ESPN since 2015, earning respect for his thoughtful and passionate basketball coverage.
- He played for Army from 1998 to 2002, ranking as the 10th leading scorer and fourth in career 3-pointers, before serving active duty including a tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- After his military service, Spatola was an assistant coach at Duke from 2007 to 2012, contributing to the 2010 national championship team.
- Tributes from colleagues like Jay Bilas and Rece Davis highlighted Spatola’s dedication to the game, family, and broadcasting, noting the profound loss felt by the basketball community.
