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Miami coach Spoelstra, a Portland alum, praises Porter hire

By Erik Gundersen, Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published: April 2, 2016, 6:37pm

PORTLAND — Friday afternoon it was announced that Portland Trail Blazers legend Terry Porter will be the new head coach for the University of Portland men’s basketball team.

Coincidentally, one of the school’s most well-known basketball alums, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, was back in his native Pacific Northwest. He was actually on his way to congratulate Porter in person before the Heat took on the Blazers Saturday night.

“Terry is one of my favorite people. I think it’s common for a lot of Portlanders,” Spoelstra said. “He’s probably, so many of my generation’s favorite Blazers. But it’s going to be a great boost for the program.”

Spoelstra said that he’s never seen the level of interest in UP basketball that he has seen since news of the hiring became public.

“I’ve never had my phone go off and text so much about the University of Portland basketball program until yesterday,” Spoelstra said. “I think that alone is terrific. He’s a great face for the program moving forward and it’s a boost that they could use.”

Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts thinks the hire makes a lot of sense for both sides.

“I think it was a natural fit for it being in Portland and him being in Portland, how well he’s respected in this area,” Stotts said.

Porter was a head coach for two seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Most recently, he was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for 51 games in the 2008-09 season.

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer