History of Pat Riley in Timeline

Pat Riley is a prominent figure in the NBA, renowned as a former player, coach, and executive. Currently the president of the Miami Heat since 1995, he also held head coaching positions with the team for multiple terms. Riley's career spans various roles within professional basketball, highlighting his significant impact and long-standing presence in the league.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1944: Leon Riley's MLB Debut

In 1944, Leon Riley, Pat Riley's father, appeared in four games for the Philadelphia Phillies, after playing 22 seasons of minor league baseball.

March 20, 1945: Patrick James Riley's Birth

On March 20, 1945, Patrick James Riley was born. He later became a prominent figure in the NBA as an executive, coach, and player.

Others born on this day/year

1957: Referenced Historic Sweep

In 2007, when the Heat were swept in the first round of the playoffs, it was noted that they were the first defending champions swept in the first round since the Philadelphia Warriors in 1957.

December 29, 1961: Linton High School Victory

On December 29, 1961, Linton High School, led by Pat Riley, defeated Power Memorial, led by Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), in a memorable game.

1965: First Team All-SEC

In 1965, Pat Riley was named First Team All-SEC, All-NCAA Tournament Team, NCAA Regional Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year and AP Third Team All-American.

1966: NCAA Title Game Appearance

In 1966, as a junior, Pat Riley led the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA title game, which they lost to Texas Western.

1967: Drafted by the San Diego Rockets

In 1967, Pat Riley was selected by the San Diego Rockets as the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft. He was also drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL/AFL draft.

1969: Best Regular Season Record

In 1993, Pat Riley led the Knicks to their best regular season record in team history, tying the record set by the 1969-1970 team.

June 26, 1970: Marriage to Christine Rodstrom

On June 26, 1970, Pat Riley married Christine Rodstrom.

1970: Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers

In 1970, Pat Riley was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA expansion draft, after playing three seasons with the Rockets.

1970: Best Regular Season Record

In 1993, Pat Riley led the Knicks to their best regular season record in team history, tying the record set by the 1969-1970 team.

1972: NBA Championship with the Lakers

In 1972, Pat Riley played a significant role as a reserve on the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Championship team, marking a significant achievement in his playing career.

1975: Traded to the Phoenix Suns

During the 1975-76 NBA season, Pat Riley was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

1976: Riley's Retirement

In 1976, Pat Riley retired from professional basketball, having averaged 7.4 points per game over his nine seasons in the league.

1977: Returns to NBA as Broadcaster

In 1977, Pat Riley returned to the NBA as a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers, marking his transition into a new role within the sport.

November 1979: Hired as Lakers Assistant Coach

In November 1979, Pat Riley was hired as an assistant coach for the Lakers after head coach Jack McKinney's accident.

1980: NBA Championship as an Assistant Coach

In 1980, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as an assistant coach.

1980: Lakers Previous Championship

Riley's coined the phrase "Disease of More" which stemmed from the Lakers' disappointing 1980–81 campaign coming off a championship the previous season.

1981: Riley Named Lakers Head Coach

In 1981, Pat Riley was named head coach of the Lakers after a tumultuous period involving Magic Johnson's trade request and the firing of Paul Westhead. Jerry West assisted him.

1982: Head Coach of NBA All-Star Game

In 1982, Pat Riley was the head coach of the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game, as head coach of the Lakers.

1982: NBA Championship as Head Coach

In 1982, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as a head coach.

1983: Head Coach of NBA All-Star Game

In 1983, Pat Riley was the head coach of the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game, as head coach of the Lakers.

1984: NBA Finals Loss to Celtics

In 1984, Pat Riley's Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics in seven games.

1984: Lost 1984 Finals with Lakers

In 1994 during the finals, Riley became the first coach to participate in an NBA Finals Game 7 with two teams, having been with the Lakers in 1984, when they lost to the Celtics.

1985: NBA Title in Rematch

In 1985, Pat Riley earned his second NBA title as the Lakers beat the Celtics in six games, in a rematch of the previous year's final.

1985: Head Coach of NBA All-Star Game

In 1985, Pat Riley was the head coach of the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game, as head coach of the Lakers.

1985: NBA Championship as Head Coach

In 1985, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as a head coach.

1985: Adoption of Son

In 1985, the Rileys adopted a son, James Patrick.

1987: Championship Parade Guarantee

During the Lakers' championship parade in 1987, Pat Riley guaranteed the crowd a repeat championship, which the Lakers later achieved in 1988.

1987: NBA Title with Lakers

In 1987, Pat Riley coached the Lakers to an NBA title, defeating the Celtics in six games and finishing the regular season with a 65-17 record.

1987: NBA Championship as Head Coach

In 1987, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as a head coach.

1987: Lakers' NBA Championship

Pat Riley's 1988 book recapped the Lakers' successful run to the 1987 NBA Championship.

1988: Publishes 'Showtime'

In 1988, Pat Riley published his book, "Showtime: Inside the Lakers' Breakthrough Season", which became a New York Times best-seller.

Show Time: Inside the Lakers' Breakthrough Season

Check it on Amazon

1988: NBA Championship as Head Coach

In 1988, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as a head coach.

1988: Repeat Championship

In 1988, Pat Riley's Lakers won the NBA title, defeating the Detroit Pistons in seven games, making them the first team in 19 years to repeat as champions and fulfilling Riley's guarantee.

1988: Participated in an NBA Finals Game 7

In 1994 during the finals, Riley became the first coach to participate in an NBA Finals Game 7 with two teams, having been with the Lakers in 1988, when they defeated the Pistons.

1988: Tied Franchise Worst Season

In 2007, the Heat's season was as bad as the Heat's inaugural season of 1988–89.

1989: NBA Coach of the Year

In 1989, Pat Riley was named NBA Coach of the Year as head coach of the Lakers.

1989: Riley's Three-Peat Trademark

In 1989, Riley's trademark of "three-peat" was overshadowed as Jackson's Bulls won the finals and accomplished a "three-peat."

1989: Trademarking 'Three-Peat'

In 1989, after successfully claiming a repeat championship the year before, Pat Riley, through his corporate entity, Riles & Co., trademarked the phrase 'three-peat', aiming for a third consecutive championship with the Lakers.

1989: NBA Finals Sweep by Pistons

In 1989, the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in a Finals rematch, after injuries to Byron Scott and Magic Johnson occurred during a mini-training camp leading up to the series.

1989: Adoption of Daughter

In 1989, the Rileys adopted a daughter, Elisabeth.

1989: Stepping Down as Lakers Head Coach

In 1989-90, Pat Riley stepped down as Lakers head coach after they lost to the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, despite being named NBA Coach of the Year.

1990: Head Coach of NBA All-Star Game

In 1990, Pat Riley was the head coach of the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game, as head coach of the Lakers.

1991: Joins New York Knicks as Head Coach

In 1991, Pat Riley accepted a job as head coach of the New York Knicks, starting with the 1991-92 season, after a year as a television commentator for NBC.

1991: Start coaching the Knicks

In 1991, Pat Riley starts his first season as the head coach of the New York Knicks.

1991: Riley recalls the game

In 1991, Riley called the December 29, 1961 victory over Power Memorial "one of the greatest games in the history of Schenectady basketball."

1992: NBA Coach of the Year

In 1992, Pat Riley was named NBA Coach of the Year as head coach of the New York Knicks.

1992: Eastern Conference Semifinals

In 1992, with Pat Riley as coach, the Knicks pushed the defending champion Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, showing a significant improvement from the previous year.

1993: Best Regular Season Record

In 1993, Pat Riley led the Knicks to their best regular season record in team history and received his second Coach of the Year award. They lost to the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals.

1993: Head Coach of NBA All-Star Game

In 1993, Pat Riley was the head coach of the Eastern Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game, as head coach of the Knicks.

1993: Riley Publishes 'The Winner Within'

In 1993, while coaching the New York Knicks, Pat Riley published his second New York Times bestseller, "The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players", co-authored by Byron Laursen.

The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players

Check it on Amazon

1994: NBA Finals Appearance with Knicks

In 1994, Pat Riley returned to the NBA Finals with the New York Knicks, after defeating the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks lost to the Houston Rockets in seven games.

June 15, 1995: Resigns from Knicks

On June 15, 1995, Pat Riley resigned from the New York Knicks via fax to become president and head coach of the Miami Heat.

September 1, 1995: Tampering Settlement

On September 1, 1995, the Miami Heat settled the tampering accusations from the Knicks by sending their 1996 first-round pick and $1 million in cash to the Knicks.

1995: Team President of the Miami Heat

In 1995, Pat Riley became the team president of the Miami Heat. He also served as the team's head coach from 1995 to 2003, and again from 2005 to 2008.

1995: First Season with the Heat

In the 1995-96 NBA season, Pat Riley led the Miami Heat to a 42-40 record and personnel changes, acquiring franchise cornerstones Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway.

1996: Named One of 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA History

In 1996, Pat Riley was named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA history.

1996: Miami Heat's First-Round Pick

In 1996, the Knicks used Miami Heat's first-round pick (sent as part of the tampering settlement) to draft Walter McCarty.

1997: Coach of the Year

In 1997, Pat Riley's Heat defeated his old team, the Knicks, and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were defeated by the eventual champion Bulls. Riley was also selected as Coach of the Year for the third time.

1998: Heat Lost to Knicks in Playoffs

In 1998, Pat Riley's Miami Heat were defeated by their rivals, the New York Knicks, in the NBA playoffs.

1999: Knicks Defeat Riley's Heat

In 1999, the Knicks defeated Riley's 1st-seeded Heat in the playoffs.

1999: Heat Lost to Knicks in Playoffs

In 1999, the Miami Heat, coached by Pat Riley, suffered another playoff loss to the New York Knicks.

2000: Heat Lost to Knicks in Playoffs

In 2000, Pat Riley's Heat experienced a third consecutive playoff defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks.

2002: Heat's Losing Season

In 2002, Pat Riley's team had a 36–46 record, marking the first time a team coached by him didn't have a winning season or make the playoffs.

2003: Riley Steps Down as Head Coach

Following the 2002–03 season, where the Heat finished with a 25–57 record, Pat Riley stepped down as head coach. He was succeeded by Stan Van Gundy. Also in 2003, the Heat drafted Dwyane Wade as the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft.

2003: End of First Coaching Tenure

In 2003, Pat Riley ended his first stint as head coach of the Miami Heat, having served since 1995. He later resumed the role from 2005 to 2008.

July 2004: Heat Trade for Shaquille O'Neal

In July 2004, Pat Riley traded Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom, and a first-round draft pick to the Lakers for Shaquille O'Neal.

2005: Riley Replaces Van Gundy as Head Coach

During the 2005 off-season and after 21 games into the 2005-06 season, Stan Van Gundy resigned as head coach of the Heat, and Pat Riley took over the position.

2005: Heat reach Eastern Conference Finals

In 2005, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal led the Heat to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons after leading the series 3–2.

2005: Riley Resumes Coaching the Heat

In 2005, Pat Riley resumed his role as the head coach of the Miami Heat, having previously coached the team from 1995 to 2003. He continued in this role until 2008.

2005: Heat's NBA Championship

On February 27, 2007, the Miami Heat were honored at the White House for their 2005–2006 NBA Championship.

June 2, 2006: Heat Win Eastern Conference Finals

On June 2, 2006, Riley's Heat team defeated the Detroit Pistons in the 2006 Eastern Conference finals, marking the first time the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals.

2006: NBA Championship with the Heat

In 2006, Pat Riley, as head coach, won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat.

2006: Heat's NBA Championship

On February 27, 2007, the Miami Heat were honored at the White House for their 2005–2006 NBA Championship.

January 3, 2007: Riley Takes Leave of Absence

On January 3, 2007, citing hip and knee problems, Pat Riley took a leave of absence from coaching. Assistant coach Ron Rothstein assumed interim duties.

February 19, 2007: Riley Returns From Leave of Absence

On February 19, 2007, Pat Riley returned to coaching after taking a leave of absence due to hip and knee problems.

February 27, 2007: Heat Honored at White House

On February 27, 2007, the Miami Heat were honored at the White House for their 2005–2006 NBA Championship. Pat Riley made political comments that were later questioned.

April 28, 2008: Riley Steps Down as Head Coach

On April 28, 2008, Pat Riley announced that he would step down as head coach and name assistant Erik Spoelstra as his successor, while remaining team president.

2008: Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2008, Pat Riley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, solidifying his legacy in the sport.

2008: End of Second Coaching Tenure

In 2008, Pat Riley's second term as head coach of the Miami Heat came to an end. He had been the team's head coach from 2005 to 2008, and previously from 1995 to 2003.

2010: Riley Acquires "Big Three"

In 2010, Pat Riley orchestrated the acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade, forming the "Big Three" on the Miami Heat.

2011: Named NBA Executive of the Year

In 2011, Pat Riley was named the NBA Executive of the Year.

June 20, 2012: Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

On June 20, 2012, Pat Riley received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the NBA Coaches Association, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport.

2012: NBA Championship as an Executive

In 2012, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as an executive.

2012: Heat Win NBA Championship

In 2012, the Miami Heat, under Pat Riley's leadership as an executive, defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship.

2013: Riley's Influence as Team President

As of 2013, and throughout his tenure as team president, Pat Riley maintained the final say in basketball matters, even with a nominal general manager in place (Andy Elisburg).

2013: NBA Championship as an Executive

In 2013, Pat Riley won an NBA championship as an executive.

2013: Heat Repeat as Champions

In 2013, the Miami Heat repeated as NBA champions, defeating the San Antonio Spurs, with Pat Riley in an executive role.

2014: Heat Reach NBA Finals

In 2014, the Heat reached the NBA Finals, marking their fourth consecutive appearance in the finals from 2011 through 2014.

2019: Heat's Transactions

Before the 2019-20 season, Pat Riley traded for Jimmy Butler, drafted Tyler Herro, and signed Kendrick Nunn. Before the 2019-20 trade deadline, the Heat obtained Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder.