Patrick James Riley, born on March 20, 1945, is an American basketball executive, former head coach, and former NBA player. Many consider him one of the greatest in NBA history. Riley has served as the Miami Heat’s team president since 1995 and was also their head coach from 1995 to 2003 and again from 2005 to 2008. Known as “the Godfather,” he has won nine NBA championships in different roles: as a player (1972 with the Lakers), assistant coach (1980 with the Lakers), head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 with the Lakers; 2006 with the Heat), and executive (2012, 2013 with the Heat). He is the first person in North American sports to win a championship as a player, assistant coach, head coach, and executive. As of February 2026, at age 80, Riley is still the Heat’s president, leading team o...