Blazers name Stotts as new head coach

Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Terry Stotts (bottom) and his bench watch as the Detroit Pistons take charge late in the fourth quarter and build up a ten point lead in NBA playoff action in Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 1, 2006.

(Reuters) - The Portland Trail Blazers named Terry Stotts as their new head coach Tuesday, injecting fresh blood to revive their stagnant franchise.

Stotts replaces interim coach Kaleb Canales who finished off the season for the Blazers once seventh-year coach Nate McMillan was fired in March.

"Terry is one of the elite offensive minds in the NBA, has extensive experience with multiple organizations and was instrumental in the Dallas Mavericks winning the 2011 NBA Championship," Blazers general manager Neil Olshey.

The 54-year-old Stotts, who served as an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks from 2008-2012, has also had two separate tenures as a head coach with Atlanta (2002-2004) and Milwaukee (2005-07).

"I'm very pleased to be a part of a great franchise in a beautiful city with such a proud history," Stotts told the Blazers website (nba.com/blazers).

"I look forward to working hard with Neil and our players toward the ultimate goal of bringing another championship to Portland."

Portland have been unable to climb out of the NBA's middle of the pack in recent years as luck has not been on their side.

Greg Oden, their No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, barely saw the court during his injury-plagued stint while former NBA All Star Brandon Roy also had his Portland tenure derailed by injury.

The Blazers missed the playoffs this past season for the first time in four years, ending a string of three straight first-round exits.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)