Former Trail Blazers, Clippers head coach Mike Schuler dies at 81

A former NBA Coach of the Year has passed away, his old team announced.

The Portland Trail Blazers said in a statement this week that their former head coach Mike Schuler died at the age of 81.

Schuler coached the Blazers for three seasons from 1986 to 1989 and earned Coach of the Year honors in 1987. He had a stellar record of 127-84 (.602) in Portland, coaching All-Stars such as Clyde Drexler, Kevin Duckworth, Terry Porter and Kiki Vandeweghe. Schuler would also go on to be head coach of the L.A. Clippers for two seasons on top of serving as an NBA assistant for 14 total seasons.

Additionally, the Ohio native Schuler was coach of the Blazers when they were purchased by Paul Allen, who died a few years ago too.