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Blazers hire Stotts as new coach


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Terry Stotts/Getty Images

August 7, 2012, 2:56 pm

Blazers insider Jason Quick joined The Bald Faced Truth guest host Jay Allen Tuesday to report the Blazers have hired Terry Stotts as the team's new head coach.

After reporting Paul Allen met with finalists Terry Stotts and Kaleb Canales Aug. 3, Quick initially said there still was no official word as to who will coach the team next season.

"This is getting pretty puzzling now," Quick said. "You heard Neil [Olshey] ... say once we find our guy we'll get him in front of Paul and then we'll pull the trigger. Well, we're waiting for that trigger to be pulled."

Minutes later, Quick broke the news that Stotts, an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks, was chosen as the new head coach.

"They have been in contract negotiations for the last day and a half," reported Quick, adding, "They have finalized a contract."

Listen to the breaking news announcement:

The Blazers announced the hiring in an official release from the team.

"I'm very pleased to be a part of a great franchise in a beautiful city with such a proud history," Stotts said in the press release. "I look forward to working hard with Neil and our players toward the ultimate goal of bringing another championship to Portland."

"Terry is one of the elite offensive minds in the NBA, has extensive experience with multiple organizations and was instrumental in the Dallas Mavericks winning the 2011 NBA Championship," Olshey said in the release. "He understands the vision for the future of the franchise, appreciates the process involved and will create an environment on the court that will produce championship habits." 

Stotts served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2005-07 and Atlanta Hawks from 2002-04, leading the Bucks to the playoffs in 2006. He served as a Mavericks assistant and "offensive coordinator" since 2008 under Rick Carlisle.

Listen to the rest of the interview: