Weber State University Athletics
Wildcat All In - Kaleb Canales
5/11/2026 2:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Get two know new WSU men's basketball head coach Kaleb Canales and his journey from the NBA to Weber State.
Get to know new Weber State men's basketball head coach Kaleb Canales in this latest Wildcat All In interview.
Hear from coach Canales on why he came to Weber State, how he got into coaching, his 18-year NBA coaching career, and his vision and goals for the Wildcats.
Coach Canales also talks about building the Wildcat roster for next season, scheduling, style of play, competition, relationship with Damian Lillard, giving back, family, and much more.
Canales was hired as the 11th head coach in Weber State's Division I history in April and brings nearly two decades of coaching experience. He also spent last season as the associate head coach at Troy, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament.
Canales came from Troy University last season, where he helped guide the Trojans to a 22–12 record and won the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
A native of Laredo, Texas, Canales began his coaching career in 2001 as a high school assistant coach before moving to the collegiate ranks at UT Arlington for the 2003-04 season, where he helped lead the Mavericks to a Southland Conference title.
He then embarked on an 18-year career in the NBA, beginning with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005 as a video intern. He was promoted to video coordinator, then to assistant coach in 2009.
In 2012, he served as the Trail Blazers' interim head coach for 23 games and became the first Hispanic head coach in NBA history. He also served as Portland's head coach in the NBA Summer League.
Canales then spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks (2013–18), followed by two years with the New York Knicks and one season with the Indiana Pacers.
In 2023, he was named associate head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. He also served as head coach of the Calgary Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He and his wife Cristi, have a son, Bauer, and a daughter, Sloane.
Hear from coach Canales on why he came to Weber State, how he got into coaching, his 18-year NBA coaching career, and his vision and goals for the Wildcats.
Coach Canales also talks about building the Wildcat roster for next season, scheduling, style of play, competition, relationship with Damian Lillard, giving back, family, and much more.
Canales was hired as the 11th head coach in Weber State's Division I history in April and brings nearly two decades of coaching experience. He also spent last season as the associate head coach at Troy, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament.
Canales came from Troy University last season, where he helped guide the Trojans to a 22–12 record and won the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
A native of Laredo, Texas, Canales began his coaching career in 2001 as a high school assistant coach before moving to the collegiate ranks at UT Arlington for the 2003-04 season, where he helped lead the Mavericks to a Southland Conference title.
He then embarked on an 18-year career in the NBA, beginning with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005 as a video intern. He was promoted to video coordinator, then to assistant coach in 2009.
In 2012, he served as the Trail Blazers' interim head coach for 23 games and became the first Hispanic head coach in NBA history. He also served as Portland's head coach in the NBA Summer League.
Canales then spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks (2013–18), followed by two years with the New York Knicks and one season with the Indiana Pacers.
In 2023, he was named associate head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. He also served as head coach of the Calgary Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He and his wife Cristi, have a son, Bauer, and a daughter, Sloane.
Get to know new Weber State men's basketball head coach Kaleb Canales
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Wildcat All In - Kaleb Canales
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