Chris Spatola, Duke Coach’s Son-in-Law and Basketball Analyst, Dies at 47

Basketball analyst Chris Spatola, son-in-law of Mike Krzyzewski, passes away at 47. Family, colleagues mourn his loss.

September 23, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Chris Spatola, a college basketball analyst and son-in-law of legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, has passed away at the age of 47.

Spatola, who was married to Krzyzewski’s daughter Jamie, served as a coach, broadcaster, and Army veteran. His passing has prompted an outpouring of grief from the Duke basketball community and beyond.

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A two-time All-Patriot League player during his four-year tenure at Army from 1998 to 2002, Spatola later earned commendation medals for his service, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined Krzyzewski’s Duke staff from 2007 to 2012 and contributed to the 2010 NCAA championship team. After leaving coaching, he became a color commentator for ESPN and TNT, and worked with SiriusXM radio. Colleagues, including Jay Bilas, described him as a humble, selfless individual with deep character and a passion for the game.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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