Erik Spoelstra Happy Not to Win Coach of the Year Award

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra took losing the COY award to George Karl in stride — in fact, Spoelstra seemed rather thrilled he didn’t win. Per the Miami Herald: “Four of the previous seven coaches to win the award were fired within two years of winning it, though none of the past three lost their jobs. ‘It’s not quite as definitive as the [Sports Illustrated] jinx, but pretty close,’ he said, jokingly wiping his brow in relief when he learned he didn’t win it. ‘I congratulate George Karl. I know he didn’t want it, either. I’m probably more pleased this morning than George Karl. I’m not very superstitious.. but [coaches] are aware of the stigma.’ […] Spoelstra was not close to Karl in the final vote count. Karl had 404 points, Spoelstra 190. Karl had 62 first-place votes, Spoelstra 24. New York’s Mike Woodson finished third. ‘I’m not surprised,’ Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. ‘I kind of knew Spo wasn’t going to get it because they expect us to be the team that we are. The good thing about it is he doesn’t care. George Karl did a hell of a job. I thought [Golden State’s] Mark Jackson did a hell of a job this year and really deserved some consideration.’ Jackson finished seventh, and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was eighth.”