Ex-Trail Blazer Becomes a Coach

PORTLAND, Ore. —  University of Portland officials insist they launched a nationwide search for a new basketball coach, but their eyes were focused just down the road at Portland Trail Blazer headquarters.

Larry Steele, who in nine seasons with the NBA club was one of the team’s most popular players, last week signed a five-year contract to head the Pilot basketball program, even though he’s never coached a game.

The selection of the 38-year-old former University of Kentucky player comes after Trail Blazer assistant coach Rick Adelman, a former teammate of Steele, turned down the job.