Chase Coburn was always chasing a coaching dream, to some day lead an NCAA Division I program.

It came true Friday when Portland State promoted Coburn to permanent head men’s basketball coach. Ten days ago, after Barret Peery left to become the coach at Texas Tech, Coburn was named interim head coach.

Coburn had served as an assistant at Portland State for eight years and was known as a top recruiter.

He led Tempe McClintock to the 2010 state basketball championship in his third season as head coach. He was hired in 2007 at McClintock, at the time the youngest coach to take over a big-school program in the Arizona Interscholastic Association at the age of 23.

Coburn played for Sam Duane Jr., at Gilbert Mesquite.

“I’m extremely ecstatic,” Coburn said in a Portland State release Friday. “This is a dream come true for me and my family. It has been a goal of mine to be the head coach at Portland State. I appreciate the support of our administration, our athletic staff and coaches, the university, our current and former players. It really means the world to me.

“I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point right now. And to be here is a dream come true.”

Duane isn’t surprised this day has come for Coburn.

“Jase had all the qualities of an excellent coach in his high school playing days as a lead guard,” Duane said. “He was a student of the game and was a fierce competitor. He is a natural born leader. Combined with his drive to be great and the way he relates to players, it’s no surprise he is getting this opportunity. He will do a tremendous job.”

Coburn posted on social media that he had “so many people to thank & I wouldn’t be here without any of you.”

“It’s crazy to think about how many people have impacted my life,” Coburn wrote. “I will carry those life lessons onto others.”

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