Micah Nori, a Middletown native raised in a fiercely competitive household, has been named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, marking a major milestone in his basketball career. In the 1980s, the Nori household was known for its intense competitive spirit. The family sang the national anthem before backyard wiffle ball games, flipped chairs over Pictionary disputes and fiercely debated who won the Indy 500. “My dad said we just lost a baseball game 10-9 and you’re worried about a car race?” Micah recalled. Fred Nori, Micah’s father, is a local legend who coached baseball, basketball and football at Bishop Fenwick and Middletown for over five decades, winning multiple state championships. “Probably the most competitive individual I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Micah said. Fred’s competitive drive influenced his oldest son. “Two o’clock in the morning I would say come on let’s go get ground balls and he would go,” Fred said. Micah, a three-sport athlete at Middletown, initially chose to play baseball in college and planned to follow in his father’s footsteps as a baseball coach. However, a meeting with another Middletown legend changed his trajectory. In 1998, Butch Carter offered Micah an internship with the Toronto Raptors. Transitioning from baseball to basketball was challenging, and Micah spent late nights breaking down VHS tapes with Carter in his apartment. “That’s what I always thought it was, like X’s and O’s, it’s this, how can you get these guys shots. At the end of the day that’s probably way down on the totem pole,” Micah said. The biggest lesson Micah learned was one his father always emphasized: treat people right. After 24 years as an NBA assistant, Micah achieved his dream, becoming the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. “I had a lot of good role models growing up. I knew it was possible to do it out of Middletown, Ohio. Very fortunate and I hope I show well for Middletown,” Micah said.

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio —

Micah Nori, a Middletown native raised in a fiercely competitive household, has been named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, marking a major milestone in his basketball career.

In the 1980s, the Nori household was known for its intense competitive spirit. The family sang the national anthem before backyard wiffle ball games, flipped chairs over Pictionary disputes and fiercely debated who won the Indy 500.

“My dad said we just lost a baseball game 10-9 and you’re worried about a car race?” Micah recalled.

Fred Nori, Micah’s father, is a local legend who coached baseball, basketball and football at Bishop Fenwick and Middletown for over five decades, winning multiple state championships.

“Probably the most competitive individual I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Micah said.

Fred’s competitive drive influenced his oldest son.

“Two o’clock in the morning I would say come on let’s go get ground balls and he would go,” Fred said.

Micah, a three-sport athlete at Middletown, initially chose to play baseball in college and planned to follow in his father’s footsteps as a baseball coach. However, a meeting with another Middletown legend changed his trajectory.

In 1998, Butch Carter offered Micah an internship with the Toronto Raptors. Transitioning from baseball to basketball was challenging, and Micah spent late nights breaking down VHS tapes with Carter in his apartment.

“That’s what I always thought it was, like X’s and O’s, it’s this, how can you get these guys shots. At the end of the day that’s probably way down on the totem pole,” Micah said.

The biggest lesson Micah learned was one his father always emphasized: treat people right.

After 24 years as an NBA assistant, Micah achieved his dream, becoming the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“I had a lot of good role models growing up. I knew it was possible to do it out of Middletown, Ohio. Very fortunate and I hope I show well for Middletown,” Micah said.