Pat Riley

The Godfather of NBA coaching and executive success.

Patrick James Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American professional basketball executive, former coach, and former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been the team president of the Miami Heat since 1995, and he also served as the team's head coach from 1995 to 2003 and again from 2005 to 2008.

Quick Facts

Position: President
Team: Miami Heat
League: NBA
Born: 20 March 1945
Birthplace: Rome, New York, U.S.
High school: Linton (Schenectady, New York)
College: Kentucky (1964–1967)
Draft round: 1

Lore & Background

Riley was named NBA Coach of the Year three times (1989–90, 1992–93 and 1996–97, as head coach of the Lakers, New York Knicks and Heat, respectively). He was head coach of an NBA All-Star Game team nine times: eight times with the Western Conference team (1982, 1983, 1985–1990, all as head coach of the Lakers) and once with the Eastern team (1993, as head coach of the Knicks).

Reader's Guide

Riley played college basketball for four seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the San Diego Rockets as the seventh overall pick of the 1967 NBA draft. He played for the Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns, retiring in 1976. He returned to the NBA in 1977 as a broadcaster for the Lakers, then became an assistant coach in 1979 and head coach of the Lakers later that season. He led the Lakers to four NBA championships as head coach. He later coached the New York Knicks and Miami Heat, winning a fifth championship with the Heat in 2006.

Did You Know?

Riley is a nine-time NBA champion across his tenures as a player (1972), assistant coach (1980), head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006), and executive (2012, 2013).
Riley trademarked the phrase 'three-peat' through his corporate entity, Riles & Co.