Mike Schuler (born September 22 1940 in Portsmouth, Ohio) is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. He coached the Portland Trail Blazers (1986-89) and Los Angeles Clippers (1990-92). He compiled a win-loss record of 179-159.
In his first year as coach of the Trail Blazers, Schuler led the team to a 49-33 record, winning the NBA Coach of the Year Award. He followed that up with a 53-29 campaign; though both seasons resulted in first-round playoff defeats. In his third season with the Blazers, the team was racked with dissension and struggled to a losing 39-43 record; Schuler was fired during the latter half of the season. Then-assistant coach Rick Adelman was promoted to replace him on an interim basis. After an end-of-season comeback, Adelman was made the head coach on a full-time basis.
In addition to his coaching exploits, Schuler is remembered for falling out of his chair at the first press conference that introduced him to be the coach of the Trail Blazers.
