Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509060056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
Pat Riley was introduced as the Heat's new president and coach Saturday, in perhaps the biggest basketball development to hit the city since the NBA awarded it a franchise in 1988.
The team, owned by Carnival Cruise Lines magnate Micky Arison, did it with the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas-style revue - trotting Riley out on the main stage of the company's newest and biggest superliner, the appropriately-named Imagination.
``This is one of the great cities in the league and a great place to start this new, dramatic change in my life,'' said a smiling, tanned Riley, who spoke as an ice carving bearing the Heat logo sweated behind him.
Riley is the fourth Heat coach in eight years. He replaces Alvin Gentry, who was interim coach last season after Kevin Loughery was fired after four years.
``This is a very important day,'' Arison said. ``We're delighted that Pat's here. We think he brings a level and a commitment to excellence that no one else could have.''
The Heat would not release financial terms of the contract, but it was estimated at $15 million over five years.
The deal also gives Riley an undisclosed ownership stake in the team and full control over basketball-related decisions.
``They've given me an opportunity that I never felt I would have in my lifetime as a coach,'' Riley said.
For their investment, the Heat gets the coach with the best winning percentage in NBA history.
Riley has a .717 winning percentage in 13 years as coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, collecting four championship rings. He's never coached a team that's won fewer than 50 games.
Riley holds league-best marks for playoff appearances (212) and victories (137) and is third among active coaches in overall victories with 756, behind Atlanta's Lenny Wilkens (968) and Don Nelson (817).
The Knicks hired Nelson on July 6 to replace Riley.
by CNB