Toronto Raptors Retain Triano as Head Coach
Former Interim Coach Jay Triano Signs Three-Year Deal With Raptors
Jay Triano did not lead the Toronto Raptors to the 2009 NBA Playoffs despite taking over as interim coach in December. But the Canadian club signed the former Canadian national team coach to a three-year deal.
Two Olympics as a Player
Jay Triano, born on September 21, 1958 in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada, broke or tied 11 Simon Fraser University records and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the eighth round of the 1981 NBA Draft but never played in the NBA. Triano also played for the Canadian national team from 1978-88 and was captain from 1981-88 while representing the North Americans at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He played three seasons professionally - two in Mexico and one in Turkey for Fenerbahce.
University Head Coach, Vancouver Grizzlies Community Relations, Canadian National Team
After retiring, Triano moved to the sidelines to coach at his alma mater Simon Fraser University in 1988. In 1995, he went to work with the Vancouver Grizzlies as the team Director of Community Relations. In 1998, Triano was named head coach of the Canadian national team, leading them to a seventh-placed finish at the 2000 Athens Olympics.
First Canadian Coach In NBA As Toronto Assistant
Triano made history in 2002 by becoming the first Canadian-born coach in the NBA when he was named assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, serving under Lenny Wilkens, Kevin O'Neill and Sam Mitchell.
Return To Canada National Team, Move To Team U.S.A.
In 2005, Triano replaced Leo Rautins as the Canada national team coach. And three years later, he was named as an assistant coach for U.S.A. Basketball.
First Canadian Head Coach In NBA
Triano made history on February 13, 2008 when he served as Raptors head coach in Toronto's 109-91 victory over the New Jersey Nets in place of head coach Sam Mitchell, who missed the contest due to a death in the family. Triano became the first Canadian to serve as head coach in an NBA regular season game.
Take Over From Fired Mitchell, No Playoffs
Mitchell was fired on December 3, 2008 and Triano was given the reigns on an interim basis and guided the Raptors to a 25-40 record. Toronto finished the season with a 33-49 record and were six games from reaching the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Rumors Of Ettore Messina
The fact that Toronto did not make the playoffs flamed the rumors that Italian coach Ettore Messina from Euroleague giants CSKA Moscow could be brought in as head coach. Messina, who has won four Euroleague crowns, seemed to make a good fit to Toronto, which has a very international flair to the team and management.
Three-Year Deal For Triano
But Toronto stuck with Triano, signing him to a three-year contract as the seventh coach in franchise history. "Internally, we talked about what was out there, who was available currently, who might be available. There's all kinds of rumor and speculation but... evaluating and analyzing those situations, it always came back to Jay Triano," said Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo.
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