Miami Heat coach Pat Riley says he will be back in charge of the
team next season and is committed to coaching the next three
campaigns.
"I have decided that I'm going to coach another three years --
the term of my contract. And that's why it's taken so long for me
to make this decision. I don't want to be a 'one and done' guy
every year," Riley said in a statement.
Riley, who is also team president, coached the Heat to their
first ever championship in 2006 but the team failed to make the
play-offs last season with their coach missing 22 games mid-season
as he underwent hip and knee surgery.
Although the coach had failed to confirm his return, he was
expected to be back for the upcoming campaign. Riley's longer-term
future was less clear though with speculation that he may switch to
solely being president.
The 62-year-old Riley said that he had made his decision after
discussions with Heat owner Micky Arison.
"I have three years left on my contract and I will coach those
out. I will try to coach those out unless someone else makes a
decision on me. That's a commitment that I want to make to the
organization," he said.
Previously coach of the LA Lakers and New York Knicks, Riley
took over at the Heat in 1995 but stood down in 2003 to become
full-time president -- he returned to coaching duties in December
2005.
(China Daily via Reuters August 14, 2007)
