Brandon Roy is no longer coaching at Garfield High School.
Roy, one of the most beloved players in Portland Trail Blazers history, has been released from his position as boys basketball coach at the Seattle school, according to multiple reports.
Garfield principal Tarance Hart, who also released girls basketball coach Roydell Smiley, announced the unexpected moves via a letter to Garfield parents earlier this week, according to reports.
“We are beginning a new chapter as we reset both programs, building on past successes while continuing to grow opportunities for our student-athletes — academically, socially, and athletically,” Hart wrote. “Our goal is to foster a competitive, academically supportive, and welcoming program that provides a positive experience and meaningful opportunities for all students.”
The moves come four months after Garfield named Chris Englund its new athletic director. He, reportedly, will be in charge of hiring new coaching staffs.
Roy only played five seasons in Portland because of degenerative knee issues, but he remains one of the most revered figures in franchise history. After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2007, he went on to earn three All-Star nods and two all-NBA selections, averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals over 321 games.
More importantly, his leadership, affable personality and jaw-dropping game, helped usher the franchise out of the “Jail Blazers” era.
Roy, who is from Seattle, returned to his hometown after his playing career, and settled into a successful high school coaching career. He started at Nathan Hale High School in 2016-17, and brought immediate success, leading the team to a 29-0 record and Class 3A state championship in his first season.
Roy moved to Garfield, his alma mater, the following year and the success continued — he led the Bulldogs to the Class 3A championship in his first season. Roy went to carry the school that retired his old No. 4 jersey to two more titles, in 2020 and 2023. Smiley was one of Roy’s assistants before taking over the girls program in 2023.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.