Education
He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in kinesiology.
He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in kinesiology.
Born in Laredo, Texas, Canales is a graduate of John B. Alexander High School. He later earned a master"s degree in sports leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Canales began his coaching career as an assistant coach in 2001 at United High School of Laredo.
The following year, Canales became an assistant coach at Martin High School also in Laredo.
In 2003, Canales returned to Utah Arlington to be an assistant coach. In 2005, Canales was hired as a video intern for the Portland Trail Blazers, and was eventually hired as the team"s video coordinator.
In 2009, he was promoted to an assistant coach for the team In 2010, Canales served as the Blazers" head coach during the National Basketball Association Summer League.
He was promoted to interim head coach of the Trail Blazers after head coach Nate McMillan was dismissed on March 15, 2012.
Canales became the youngest active head coach in the National Basketball Association and the first Mexican-American coach in National Basketball Association history. In the summer of 2012, Portland hired Terry Stotts as their head coach, but Canales remained with the team as an assistant. On May 3, 2013, Canales accepted an assistant coaching job with the Dallas Mavericks.
On August 17, 2012, Canales was presented the first-ever "Laredo Favorite Son" plaque by Mayor Raul G. Salinas, who said, "This is a young man who has made history – made history for our community, for our city, and someone that just has a delightful heart".