Coach K’s Son-in-Law Jamie Spatola Dies Sudennly

Jan 14, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; ESPN announcers Chris Spatola and Mark Neely that were working game the between the Baylor Bears and the Oklahoma State Cowboys had to call the game via a cell phone after a power outage during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Very sad news for the Duke Basketball family and community as Mike Krzyzewski’s son-in-law, Chris Spatola, died suddenly Monday night. He was just 47.

Married to Jamie Krzyzewski Spatola, Chris, like Coach K, graduated from West Point, where he also played on the basketball team.

He was on the Duke staff from 2007 to 2012, and from there went on to establish a fine media career with ESPN and Sirius XM.

The Krzyzewski family issued a statement Tuesday, and here it is:

“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola. 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, grieve and process this unimaginable loss.”

It’s truly heartbreaking news for the entire family, but your heart really goes out to their children. Losing a parent is not easy, least of all when you’re still young. We don’t know exactly how old the kids are, but Chris and Jamie got married in 2004, so they may be mostly grown, but they could still be quite young.

Either way, it’s a terrible blow, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire family.

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