WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua)-- Pat Riley will return next season as coach of the Miami Heat, according to the Miami Herald Friday.

    Riley, who coached the Los Angeles Lakers to four NBA titles, confirmed to the newspaper through a club spokesman that he plans to return for the 2006-2007 campaign on the eve of the Heat's NBA playoff opener in Miami against Chicago.

    Riley, who also serves as club president, will be with his teamfor Game one of Miami's Eastern Conference quarterfinal against Chicago on Saturday, despite the death of his 96-year-old mother, Mary.

    Since replacing Stan Van Gundy in December, Riley has said he would complete the season and wait to decide about the future.

    Riley spent eight seasons in Miami as the head coach and ended his run in 2003 to take the top executive post until Van Gundy's departure. Enditem