Raptors will keep Jay Triano as head coach

Jay Triano will get a chance to finish what he started.

The Toronto Raptors interim head coach had the `interim’ tag removed from his title and was signed to a three-year contract on Monday by the National Basketball Association team.

"Despite some difficult circumstances this past season, Jay Triano never stopped coaching, teaching and leading this team which resulted in a very strong finish," Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. "After undertaking a thorough evaluation process, it is clear that Jay is the right coach to guide this team in the future."

Triano took over the Raptors on Dec. 3, 2008, when Sam Mitchell was fired from the post.

In 65 games behind the bench, Triano led the Raptors to a 25-40 record, including 9-4 in the season’s final 13 games.

Triano, the seventh head coach in Raptors history, worked for seven seasons as an assistant in Toronto before taking over for Mitchell.

The native of Niagara Falls, Ont., posted a record of 52-42 as the head coach of the Canadian men’s national team from 1998-2004.