Tuomas Iisalo, who took over as interim head coach of the Grizzlies when Taylor Jenkins was fired in late March, will preserve the job on a everlasting foundation, the crew introduced (via Twitter).
“I’ve full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going ahead,” mentioned crew president and normal supervisor of basketball operations Zach Kleiman. “Tuomas’ groups at each degree have been disciplined, tenacious and linked on each ends of the ground, constantly exceeding expectations. We stay up for the identical in Memphis.”
Iisalo compiled a 4-7 common season document adopted Jenkins’ stunning dismissal. After ending because the eighth seed, the Grizzlies misplaced to Golden State within the first spherical of the play-in match however superior to the playoffs with a win over Dallas. They had been swept by Oklahoma Metropolis within the first spherical.
Iisalo was in his first season with Memphis after a profitable teaching profession in Europe and was one in every of 4 new assistants employed final summer season in a shakeup of Jenkins’ employees.
He led Paris Basketball to the 2023-24 EuroCup championship and was named EuroCup Coach of the 12 months. He additionally earned 2024 LNB Professional A Coach of the 12 months honors after taking Paris to the French Leaders Cup title and the French LNB Professional A Finals and was the 2023 Champions League Coach of the 12 months with Baskets Bonn in Germany.
Iisalo is the first-ever Finnish-born coach within the NBA. He spent 14 years as a participant in Finland and appeared in 57 video games for the Finnish nationwide crew.
Iisalo is the third interim coach to be employed to a everlasting job up to now two days, joining
Doug Christie in Sacramento and Mitch Johnson earlier Friday in San Antonio. Phoenix is at present the one crew with out a head coach, whereas David Adelman is on interim standing whereas main Denver within the playoffs.
