Portland hires Terry Porter as head coach

The University of Portland hired former Portland Trail Blazers standout Terry Porter as its head basketball coach on Saturday.

Porter replaces Eric Reveno, who fired after 10 seasons with the school. Porter will be formally introduced as the Pilots' coach at a campus event on Tuesday.

"Terry has proven that he is a man of high character and integrity with a competitive drive that will translate well to this new opportunity," Portland athletic director Scott Leykam said in a statement.

"We want the city of Portland to embrace us and get on board with an exciting new chapter of Pilot Basketball."

Porter played for the Trail Blazers from 1985-95 during a time the franchise twice advanced to the NBA Finals.

Porter averaged 14.9 points and 7.0 assists for Portland. He is the club's second all-time leading scorer with 11,330 career points and is the franchise record-holder in career assists (5,319) and 3-pointers (773).

Porter, 52, remains a popular figure in Portland and his jersey (No. 30) was retired in 2009.

The two-time All-Star also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs during a 17-year NBA career.

Porter was head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons (2003-05) and Phoenix Suns for one (2008-09). He has a 99-116 record as an NBA head coach.

Porter played college basketball at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has no experience in college coaching.

"I have been blessed to coach at the highest level in the NBA, but college has always intrigued me because of the impact that my college coach, Dick Bennett, has had on my life," Porter said in a statement.

"To now have the opportunity, in my hometown of Portland, to impact other young men's lives is phenomenal, and to be able to do so at a prestigious academic institution means a lot."

Portland compiled a 12-20 record this season and has experienced four losing campaigns in the last five seasons.