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Sport

Chris Spatola, ESPN analyst and Mike Krzyzewski's son-in-law, dies suddenly at 47

ESPN and SiriusXM college basketball analyst Chris Spatola, son-in-law of Mike Krzyzewski, has died suddenly at 47, with Duke, ESPN and the Krzyzewski family confirming the news in separate statements.

By James Calloway · · 1 min read

Chris Spatola, an ESPN and SiriusXM college basketball analyst and son-in-law of Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, died suddenly on Monday aged 47, Duke, ESPN and the Krzyzewski family confirmed in separate statements on Tuesday, USA Today reports. No cause of death was announced.

Spatola is survived by his wife Jamie, Krzyzewski’s daughter, and their three children, the family said.

“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 respectfully ask for privacy as our entire family, particularly Jamie and her three beautiful children, grieve and process this unimaginable loss.”

Spatola played four seasons at Army, graduating from West Point in 2002 with 1,543 career points and second-team All-Patriot League honours in 2001 and 2002, the New York Post reports. He then spent five years on active duty from 2002 to 2007, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and earning the Joint Service Commendation and Army Commendation medals, Fox News reports.

He joined Krzyzewski’s staff at Duke in 2007, staying five years including the Blue Devils’ 2010 national championship run, before a decade-plus career as an ESPN analyst and SiriusXM host.

“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.

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