ESPN college basketball analyst Chris Spatola dies at 47

<p>Chris Spatola, an ESPN college basketball analyst, has died, the network announced on September 22, 2026. He was 47.</p><p>Before moving into broadcasting, Spatola was a starting guard for the Army Black Knights. He later became an assistant coach at Duke University, where he worked under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is also his father-in-law.</p><p>ESPN stated, "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."</p><p>"He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time," the statement continued.</p><p>Spatola led Army in scoring in three of his four seasons as a starter, finishing his college career with 1,543 points, placing him among Army’s top 10 all-time scorers.</p><p>After graduating from Army, Spatola served five years on active duty from 2002 through 2007, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for exceptional combat performance and the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding leadership.</p><p>Spatola served on Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching staff at Duke from 2007 through 2012. During that period, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship, with Spatola serving as an assistant coach. Krzyzewski also led the U.S. men’s national basketball team to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Spatola worked as a court coach.</p>