Chris Spatola, a 47-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst and former Army starting guard, passed away unexpectedly on Monday.
“Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN’s college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach, and broadcaster,” ESPN said in a statement.
“He was smart, prepared, and enthusiastic about the sport, garnering the respect of colleagues, coaches, players, and spectators alike. We offer our heartfelt sympathies to his family during this difficult time.”
Career
Spatola joined ESPN in 2015 to provide analysis during game and studio productions.
He was a four-year starter at West Point, leading the team in scoring three years and finishing 10th all-time in Army career points (1,543).
Spatola served on active duty from 2002 to 2007. He deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for outstanding combat performance and the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding leadership.
From 2007 to 2012, Spatola worked under his father-in-law, Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, at Duke, where he helped the Blue Devils capture the 2010 national championship and four ACC tournament titles.
He also served as the court coach for the United States’ gold medal-winning teams at the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.