Mar 08

One of the key ingredients in a successful NBA franchise is the coach. The captain. The man who steers the ship to and through the waters of success. Great coaches are hard to find. Lucky for the Portland Trail Blazers, we’ve found and retained our man.

Head Coach Nate McMillan signed a 2-year contract extension this morning. Furthering the winning agenda the Trail Blazers have strived for over the last 6 years of his leadership.

As the second longest tenured head coach in Trail Blazers history, Nate McMillan’s success with the franchise is undeniable. Coming in during a rebuilding stage isn’t easy. McMillan had the patience and drive to weather the storm and has pulled this franchise into the brilliant sunshine.

"Without question Nate has ascended into the upper echelon of coaches," said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. "He's more than demonstrated his leadership and commitment to the team and this community and the time was right to demonstrate our commitment to him by extending his contract."

The success of McMillan hasn’t gone unnoticed throughout the league.The desire for Nate McMillan went beyond the Rose City. This year, with McMillan entering “free agency” as a coach, his stock skyrocketed.

High profile organizations wanted McMillan. Plain and simple. The rumors surrounding Nate’s future kicked into high gear this season. From heading to Los Angeles to succeed Phil Jackson to taking his talents to South Beach to head the Heat, big names were said to be licking their chops at the possibility of landing McMillan.

The Trail Blazers championed them all. The past six years have shown the development of the franchise and the settling in of one of the NBA’s elite head coaches.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to finish what we started," said McMillan. "Portland is home for me now and I greatly appreciate the bond between the fans and this basketball team. It's a very special place to be and it's the only place I want to be.”

As a diehard fan of the Trail Blazers I’m giddy over the extension of coach McMillan. As a franchise, the Trail Blazers are moving forward with leaps and bounds. The mentality of leadership, the resulting personnel changes and now the extension of coach Nate McMillan proves to me how driven to success the organization is.

McMillan is the right captain for our ship.

Do you share my sentiments? In your opinion is Nate McMillan the man for the job?

Congratulations Nate McMillan!