Eric Jon Spoelstra’s journey from a Division I college basketball player to the head coach of the Miami Heat is among the most inspiring of basketball stories. Born on November 01, 1970, in Evanston, Illinois, Spoelstra grew up influenced by basketball as his father Jon Spoelstra served multiple executive positions in the NBA.
Having relocated to Portland from Buffalo, New York, Eric attended Jesuit High School before committing to the University of Portland. At Portland, Eric became a consistent starter for the university men’s basketball team and established himself as a reliable scorer and decent Perimeter defensive player.
Playing four seasons for Portland Pilots, Spoelstra’s most productive years were his junior and senior seasons where he averaged 10.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Eric Spoelstra’s path to joining the NBA was very unlike his father but both went on to have long-term accomplished careers in the league.
Erik Spoelstra Height
Eric Spoelstra stands 6 feet 2 inches tall. As a player, Spoelstra was a talented Point guard who was fast, athletic, had good handles, and a high basketball IQ. Spoelstra’s agility gave him the advantage of scoring from inside the paint and scoring from midrange and three points as well.
With a wingspan of just over 6 feet 2 inches, Spoelstra was a key overall shooter and steal scorer for the Portland Pilots. Averaging 40% shooting from the field and 38% from the three-point line, his shooting ability was nothing to sleep on.
Spoelstra was defensively very active on the perimeter, contesting possession by effectively guarding the opponents and scoring steals in the process.
After completing college, Spoelstra’s basketball commitments took him to Europe where he briefly served as a player and head coach for one of Basketball Bundesliga's second-division teams, TuS Herten.
Erik Spoelstra Age
Erik Spoelstra is 52 years old. After spending two years in Europe, Spoelstra received an offer to work as a Video Coordinator for the Miami Heat. Having to choose between working as a head coach in Germany’s second-tier basketball league and the Miami Heat, Erik chose the latter option and joined the Heat in 1995.
Two years later in 1997, Spoelstra became the assistant coach for the team and was part of Miami’s first NBA title victory in 2006. In 2008 Pat Riley stepped down as the head coach and appointed assistant coach Spoelstra as the head coach going forward. Pat remained the team president.
Erik Spoelstra’s coaching has led the Miami Heat to 12 Playoff appearances, six finals appearances, six conference championships, and two NBA championships. His leadership alongside team president Riley has maintained Miami’s status as one of the most relevant teams in the Eastern Conference.
FAQs
A. Erik Jon Spoelstra.
A. Erik Spoelstra reportedly makes about $8.5 Million a year.
A. The nine-time Eastern Conference coach of the month has a career coaching record of 704 wins – 491 losses.
A. Erik attended the University of Portland for four years from 1988 till 1992.
