Nikki Sapp
Nikki Sapp is a former Miami Heat cheerleader and the wife of the team’s head coach Erik Spoelstra. He served as assistant coach and director of scouting for the Heat from 2001 to 2008, being promoted to head coach thereafter. Spoelstra is of Filipino descent from his mother’s side, and he’s also the first Asian American head coach in the history of the four major North American sports league. Nikki’s hubby is also the first Asian American head coach to win an NBA championship.
Mr. and Mrs. Spoelstra kept their relationship private at first, but then shocked the media when he brought Nikki, who’s much younger than him, to the Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino’s yearly fundraiser.
Nikki began dancing for the Heat in 2005, at the time her hubby served as an assistant for Pat Riley. The young hottie left the team after performing for three seasons, and it is said these two overlapped by one season, though it’s not clear if they were together in 2008. What we do know is that they dated at least since 2013. The couple was associated with the Heat for the franchise’s first title in 2006.
The former cheerleader attended Miami International University of Art & Design, where she studied fashion design, and got a full scholarship after producing her own fashion show in 2005. Nikki then graduated Magna *** Laude at Florida International University with her BA in Art History at the same time she danced professionally for the Heat and taught dance to children ages 5-18 at Just Dance It! dance studios and other prestigious studios throughout South Florida.
Erik’s wife is now an educator in South Florida. She currently teaches Gifted Language Arts to sixth and seventh graders at Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) Academy Charter School, and she’s also the head coach of the SLAM’s Sirens Dance Team. Nikki was named Teacher-of-the-Year for the 2015-2016 school year.
Nikki has also a strong background in literature and painting. She was a director at the famous Guy Hepner Contemporary Art Gallery in West Hollywood prior to her teaching career, and appeared as a guest writer for the American Contemporary Art Magazine. Spoelstra’s wife opened Guy Hepner’s first Miami art gallery in 2011, located in the Bal Harbour shops.
The former cheerleader associates herself with several philanthropic organizations. She also describes herself as a clothing designer with her own label: Forever Miss Nik. This stunning gal shares time between Los Angeles and Miami.
Mr. and Mrs. Spoelstra got engaged during the summer of 2015. Erik made the big announcement on September 16, 2015, on the Izzy and Ethan Show on 790 The Ticket. The couple married on July 23, 2016, and the wedding was reportedly held at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami.
You can follow Nikki Sapp on Instagram, Twitter, and visit her website. You can also follow Rosie, the couple’s dog adopted in December!
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