Former Blazers Assistant Kaleb Canales Named Weber State Head Coach

Canales, who served as interim head coach in Portland, returns to his alma mater to lead the Wildcats men's basketball program.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:22pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, green, and orange, capturing the dynamic motion and energy of a basketball game or match.Canales' return to his alma mater as head coach represents a new chapter in Weber State's proud basketball history.Ogden Today

Weber State University has announced the hiring of former Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Kaleb Canales as the new head coach of the Wildcats men's basketball team. Canales, who previously served as the Blazers' interim head coach during the 2011-12 season, is a Weber State alumnus and will be taking over a program with a proud tradition, including famous alum and current Blazers star Damian Lillard.

Why it matters

Canales' hiring represents a homecoming for the coach, who is returning to his alma mater to lead the Wildcats program. His previous experience as an NBA assistant and interim head coach will bring valuable experience to the mid-major program, and his connection to Lillard and the Blazers organization could help strengthen the pipeline between Weber State and one of the NBA's most exciting young teams.

The details

Canales served as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons from 2009 to 2013, and took over as interim head coach for 23 games during the 2011-12 season after the dismissal of then-head coach Nate McMillan. Following his time with the Blazers, Canales went on to serve as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and most recently the Indiana Pacers, where he worked under current Blazers assistant Nate Bjorkgren.

  • Canales served as a Blazers assistant from 2009 to 2013.
  • He was the Blazers' interim head coach for 23 games during the 2011-12 season.
  • Canales was hired as the new Weber State head coach in April 2026.

The players

Kaleb Canales

A former assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers, Canales has been named the new head coach of the Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team. He is a Weber State alumnus.

Damian Lillard

The Portland Trail Blazers superstar and Weber State alumnus, whose connection to the school and Canales could help strengthen the pipeline between the two programs.

Nate McMillan

The former Portland Trail Blazers head coach who was dismissed in 2011-12, leading to Canales' stint as interim head coach.

Nate Bjorkgren

The current Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach who previously worked with Canales on the Indiana Pacers staff.

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What they’re saying

“I am truly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of Weber State men's basketball. We will build a culture that is connected on both ends of the floor, connected in the classroom, and connected to the community. This is a program with a proud tradition, a world-class institution, and a passionate fan base. I'm ready to get to work.”

— Kaleb Canales, New Weber State Head Coach

What’s next

Canales will look to build on Weber State's proud basketball tradition and leverage his NBA experience to help the Wildcats program reach new heights. His connection to Damian Lillard and the Blazers organization could open up new recruiting pipelines and opportunities for the mid-major program.

The takeaway

Kaleb Canales' hiring as the new Weber State head coach represents a homecoming for the former Blazers assistant, who will look to draw on his NBA experience to elevate the Wildcats program. His ties to Damian Lillard and the Blazers could also help strengthen the pipeline between the two programs.