Jeff Van Gundy and Tiago Splitter Among the New Head Coach Candidates of the Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are searching for a new head coach after Tiago Splitter. Jeff Van Gundy, Tiago Splitter, and Micah Nori are among the finalists.

Scraper SystemMay 22, 2026, 10:30 AM

Jeff Van Gundy and Tiago Splitter Among the New Head Coach Candidates of the Portland Trail Blazers

The NBA team Portland Trail Blazers has accelerated their search for a new head coach following Tiago Splitter, who served as interim head coach last season. According to NBA reporter Chris Haynes, the Blazers requested permission to interview Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy, and it was reported that Van Gundy stands out among the candidates. Additionally, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori and Tiago Splitter are also among the finalists. Splitter led the team to the playoffs with a 42-39 record during his interim tenure but they were eliminated in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Van Gundy is a seasoned figure who has served as head coach for the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. Along with Portland's young players Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson, and the contribution of Damian Lillard returning from injury, the team aims to build a competitive squad for the new season. It is noted that there are other candidates for the Blazers' head coaching position, but Van Gundy stands out with his experience.