INQUIRER Sports

Editor's note: Re-posts to correct mother's name in last paragraph.

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra has replaced Pat Riley as the new head coach of Miami Heat after the latter announced his resignation on Tuesday.

"I just want to let everybody know how excited and honored I am to be the next coach of the Miami Heat," said Spoelstra, who has worked for the club for the past 13 years. "I want to thank everybody for having the confidence in me to lead this team on the court and in the future."

Before he assumed his new post in the 2006 National Basketball Association champion team, the 35-year-old Spoelstra served as Riley’s assistant, training young players such as Dwyane Wade.

Spoelstra’s mother is a Filipino, the former Elisa Celino of San Pablo City, and his father Jon is of Dutch-Irish origin. With a report from Agence France-Presse