[4] As a student at Simon Fraser University, the 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m), 194-pound (88 kg)[1] Triano broke or equalled eleven school men's basketball records, including having the most career points with 2,616.

[7] In 1995, when the nearby Vancouver Grizzlies debuted, he became team director of community relations and worked as the colour commentator for their radio broadcasts.

He coached the Nash-led team to a 5–2 record and a seventh-place finish in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, losing to France by five points in the quarter-finals.

In 2004, Triano was fired as national team head coach,[8] and replaced by Leo Rautins the following year.

In the 2010–11 season, without All-Star Chris Bosh on the roster, Triano led the Raptors to a dismal 22–60 record.

On June 1, 2011, the Raptors announced they would not be picking up the option on Triano's contract, but gave him another position within the organization, the vice-president of pro scouting.

[11] The following week, Triano was also named head coach of Canada's national team for the second time in his career.

[13] On October 22, 2017, after a 0–3 start to the season, including one of the worst losses in Suns history and the worst loss to open up a regular season in league history, Triano was promoted to interim head coach of the Suns after the firing of Earl Watson.