Chris Spatolas sister-in-law shares heartbreaking photo as family mourns death: No adequate words
ESPN college basketball analyst Chris Spatola’s sister-in-law, Amanda Spatola, shared a message from their family after the Worldwide Leader confirmed he died unexpectedly at the age of 47 on Monday.“There are no adequate words to express the sadness our family feels right now,” Amanda, who is married to Chris’ brother, J.P.
Spatola, wrote in an Instagram Story post, including a snapshot of her, J.P., Chris and his wife, Jamie.“Chris was so loved, and will be deeply missed.Grateful we got this night together back in June.
Love you Chris.” No cause of death was revealed, as of Wednesday.Chris was the son-in-law of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and a member of his Duke men’s basketball staff from 2007-12.“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola,” the Krzyzewski family said in a statement.“Chris served our country, was a devoted husband and father, and was such an important part of our family.
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time.We respectfully ask for privacy as our entire family, particularly Jamie and her three beautiful children [John David, Mackenzie and Madeline] grieve and process this unimaginable loss.” Chris also served as a coach for the United States Men’s National Team that won gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and gold in the 2010 World Championships in Istanbul.He was a four-year starter on the basketball team at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and served as a graduate assistant coach for Army in the 2002-03 season.
After graduating in 2002, he became an officer in the United States Army, and was a soldier in firefights in Iraq.Chris joined ESPN as a college basketball analyst in 2015 and he was a host for SiriusXM.
“Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN’s college basketball coverage, shaped by his experi...