Miami Heat coach Pat Riley says he will be back in charge of the team next season and is committed to coaching the next three campaigns.

 

"I have decided that I'm going to coach another three years -- the term of my contract. And that's why it's taken so long for me to make this decision. I don't want to be a 'one and done' guy every year," Riley said in a statement.

 

 

Riley, who is also team president, coached the Heat to their first ever championship in 2006 but the team failed to make the play-offs last season with their coach missing 22 games mid-season as he underwent hip and knee surgery.

 

Although the coach had failed to confirm his return, he was expected to be back for the upcoming campaign. Riley's longer-term future was less clear though with speculation that he may switch to solely being president.

 

The 62-year-old Riley said that he had made his decision after discussions with Heat owner Micky Arison.

 

"I have three years left on my contract and I will coach those out. I will try to coach those out unless someone else makes a decision on me. That's a commitment that I want to make to the organization," he said.

 

Previously coach of the LA Lakers and New York Knicks, Riley took over at the Heat in 1995 but stood down in 2003 to become full-time president -- he returned to coaching duties in December 2005.

 

(China Daily via Reuters August 14, 2007)