The Portland Trail Blazers have promoted Kevin Pritchard to the team’s general manager, effective today.

Most recently the club’s assistant general manager, Pritchard will oversee all day-to-day basketball operations and player personnel decisions in his new role.

"Kevin has repeatedly demonstrated his total dedication to producing a championship caliber culture and performance for our players, both on and off the court," said Trail Blazers owner, Paul Allen. "Kevin has been a part of winning championships in college, the minor leagues and the NBA. His reputation for assessing talent is known throughout the NBA and we're quite fortunate to have watched him take his last few professional steps within our organization. He knows what it takes to bring a championship to Portland once again."

Pritchard, 39, becomes the franchise’s eighth general manager after joining the team as director of player personnel in 2004-05, where at the end of that season he served as interim head coach for the final 27 games.

Promoted to assistant general manger at the beginning of this season, Pritchard has been a key component in the team’s youthful resurgence; Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriguez, Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack were all drafted since Pritchard arrived in the Rose City.

Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, the former NBA guard and Kansas Jayhawk spent two seasons as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs. >From 1999-2001, Pritchard served as general manager, head coach and director of player personnel for the Kansas City Knights of the ABA.