By: Justin Gincauskas
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth more than $120 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Spoelstra’s current deal was set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Spoelstra, who is 53 years old, is in his 16th season as Miami’s head coach and his 29th season overall with the organization. He is the second longest-tenured coach in the NBA, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since 1996.
In terms of total value for a coach, the extension Erik Spoelstra signed is the largest contract in NBA history. It is also the most money committed to a coach in North American coaching history.
Spoelstra began his time with the Miami Heat organization back in 1995 as a video coordinator. At the start of the 1997 season, he became an assistant coach with the team. He held that position until 2008.
The Heat hired Spoelstra as the head coach before the 2008-09 season, replacing Pat Riley. Miami made the playoffs in each of the first six seasons under Spoelstra, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. The Heat made four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011-14.
During Spoelstra’s head coaching career, Miami has missed the playoffs only three times. The Heat have finished with fewer than 40 wins in a season just twice with Spoelstra and have won more than 50 games in a season four times.
The Miami Heat are coming off their sixth NBA Finals appearance under Spoelstra. Despite being the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Heat made the 2023 NBA Finals. They shocked the number one-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the opening round before taking out the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. Miami would end up losing in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets.
In 1,231 career regular-season games with the Heat, Spoelstra has a record of 725-506. In the postseason, he has accumulated over 100 wins, holding a record of 109-75 in 184 career playoff games.
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