Riley takes leave of absence

MIAMI — Miami Heat coach Pat Riley will take an indefinite leave of absence because of ongoing hip and knee problems, and top assistant Ron Rothstein will take over on an interim basis.

The 61-year-old Riley disclosed his plans Wednesday and was to discuss his decision at a news conference. Right knee surgery is scheduled for Friday.

Riley, who also is the Heat president, is in his 12th season with the organization and 10th year as its coach. He resigned as coach shortly before the 2003-04 season, then returned to the bench in December 2005, replacing Stan Van Gundy and postponing right hip replacement surgery. In September, Riley said he didn't expect to need the operation this season.

But his condition apparently worsened in recent weeks. He often walks with a limp and has been on medication for the hip.

Riley's frustration has grown as the defending NBA champion Heat have struggled this season, remaining mired below .500. Last week he described one stretch as "horrible" and said the team was "absolutely manhandled" in its most recent loss.

The team is off to a 13-17 start and has been without center Shaquille O'Neal most of the season because of a knee injury. A six-game Western swing begins Friday and the team hopes to get O'Neal back by the end of the trip.

Riley has a career record of 1,164-606. Last season's title run was vindication for Riley, who made sweeping roster changes in 2005. The championship was Riley's seventh and his fifth as a head coach, but his first since 1988 with the "Showtime"-era Los Angeles Lakers.

Riley has said he gets plenty of mail about how to handle the hip problem, including one package in which someone sent him an artificial hip and explained how it works. Last fall he described his exercise regimen as "not intolerable."

Rothstein was the Heat's first head coach back in the 1988-89 season.