The Miami Heat have handed coach Erik Spoelstra an eight-year contract extension worth a total of $120 million; the most committed money in a coaching deal in North American sporting history. Since becoming head coach of the Heat in 2008, the 53-year-old coach has become one of the most respected coaches in the NBA given the work he has done in his only head coaching role to date.
Expectations were high for Spoelstra after the then-assistant coach replaced Hall of Famer Pat Riley as the heat’s head coach. Despite having big shoes to fill, he didn’t disappoint, leading Miami to back-to-back NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013 and a total of six NBA Finals. Currently the second-highest-paid NBA coach on an annual basis behind Gregg Popovich at $19 million per season, sources have explained that the length of Spoelstra’s deal separates him from his peers.
Spoelstra has proven to be an effective coach during the ongoing season as well, with the Heat currently fifth in the Eastern Conference standings despite dealing with a long list of injuries to several key players. Miami next faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night before hosting the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
