Trail Blazers Dump Schuler, Elevate Adelman

Mike Schuler, the National Basketball Assn.’s coach of the year two seasons ago, was fired Saturday by the Portland Trail Blazers and replaced by his assistant, Rick Adelman, who will coach at least for the rest of the season.

Trail Blazer players reportedly were dissatisfied with Schuler’s intense, no-nonsense style, and difficulties arose between the coach and the team’s star player, Clyde Drexler.

Bucky Buckwalter, vice president for player personnel, said Schuler, 48, lost the confidence of his players.

“There was an uneasiness,” Buckwalter said. “There was some tension. There was a negative feeling.”

The Trail Blazers also promoted Jack Schalow, chief scout, to the new position of head defensive coach.

Contacted by the Oregonian, Schuler said the firing was unexpected.

“They just didn’t like the direction the team was going,” he said. “I’ll walk out knowing we won. It’s not like I have to go hide. I don’t have to run away with my tail between my legs.”

Schuler was named coach of the year in his first season in 1986-87, when the Trail Blazers had a 49-33 record and finished second in the Pacific Division.

The team was 53-29 last season, making Schuler only the ninth coach in NBA history to win at least 100 games in his first two seasons.

But the Blazers stumbled in the first round of the playoffs both seasons, losing to Houston in 1987 and to Utah in 1988.

This season, Portland was struggling with a 25-22 record, fifth in the Pacific Division, when Schuler was fired.

Adelman, 42, attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles and Loyola Marymount University.