Manila Bulletin

Although he already made history by being the first ever Asian American to have been designated head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA)—and at 37, the youngest as well—Erik Spoelstra is not resting on his laurels even as he is set to forge another historic landmark by becoming the first-ever Asian American coach to win a championship.

Spoelstra’s Miami Heat has picked up the pace late in the 09-10 season, going 12-1 in the final 13 games to earn the 5th seed in the East. They are now in the playoffs against the well-regarded Boston Celtics.

Spoelstra is an American citizen born to an Irish-Dutch father and a Filipina mother.

Spoelstra’s mother, the former Elisa Celino, hails from Los Baños, Laguna.

Spoelstra visited the country in 2008 as part of a US government sponsored delegation tasked to spearhead a week-long sports clinic in and around the archipelago.

During that visit, Spoelstra made public his affection for his mother’s native land.

“I have always been very proud of my Filipino heritage but maybe never more so than I have been this week as I have returned to the homeland of my mother and many of my family members,” he said.

In his blog, Spoelstra admitted that it was his first visit since he was 3.

Spoelstra was only three years old when his family migrated to America, where he grew up.

“… I have wanted to make this trip for a number of years. I am excited to finally be back… [it’s] such a special homecoming for me,” he said via “On the Road,” his blog at the US Department of State website.

Spoelstra was a starting point guard for four years for the Pilots, at University of Portland where he graduated in 1992 with a degree in communications. He was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year.

After college, he spent two years as a playing coach for Tus Herten, a team in the German professional sports league. 

In an interview with Quinito Henson, Spoelstra admitted wanting to play in the local league.

“I thought that after playing in Europe, I might be able to do the PBA [Philippine Basketball Association],” he told Henson.

“But when the offer [from Miami] came, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in the NBA,” he added.

Spoelstra started as a video coordinator for the Heat in 1995, preparing scouting tapes and developing the Heat’s coaching staff’s information technology.

He became assistant coach-video coordinator for the two seasons (1997-1999) and then assistant coach-advance scout for the next two seasons (1999-2001).

He then assumed the post of assistant coach-director of scouting.

He was named head coach of the team on April 28, 2008 after Heat President and head coach Pat Riley stepped down.

In passing the baton to Spoelstra, Riley said, “I believe Erik Spoelstra is one of the most talented young coaches in a long time...he is a man that was born to [be] coach.”

Spoelstra, according to Henson, is happily married to a Filipina.

About his being a coach, Spoelstra said, “I don’t think anybody would have thought five years ago that there would ever be an Asian-American head coach in any major league in America," he said. “Things can happen. I think the world is changing. It’s becoming more global."