The Memphis Grizzlies have made a significant announcement by naming Tuomas Iisalo as their new head coach, marking him as the first-ever Finnish-born head coach in NBA history.
The team shared this news on Friday afternoon, although they didn’t provide specifics about the terms of the agreement.
“I have complete confidence in Tuomas as he steps into the role of head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies,” stated Zachary Z. Kleiman, the team’s president and general manager. “Tuomas’ teams have shown discipline and strong connections on both ends of the court, consistently surpassing expectations. We’re excited for what’s to come in Memphis.”
Iisalo had been serving as the interim head coach since late March when he took over after the surprising dismissal of Taylor Jenkins. Officially, he signed on for his new role this past Friday.
Prior to his time in Memphis, Iisalo was brought on as the lead assistant in the summer of 2024 following a noteworthy coaching stint overseas. He notably coached a team in Paris to the Euro Cup Championship during the 2023-24 season, earning accolades as the Euro Cup Coach of the Year.
Before diving into coaching, Iisalo had a solid playing career in Finland that spanned 14 years, during which he clinched the 2009 Finland Cup and represented the national team in 57 games.
The situation took a twist when Jenkins, who had become the franchise’s most successful coach and held the fifth-longest coaching tenure in the NBA, was let go late in the season. Under Jenkins, the Grizzlies had a respectable record of 44-29, placing fifth in the Western Conference before his unexpected exit.
With Jenkins’ dismissal so late in the season, Memphis only completed nine regular season games under Iisalo, finishing with a 4-5 record, which culminated in a 48-34 season overall. They participated in the West Play-In Tournament, achieving a victory against the Mavericks but losing to the Warriors, which secured their final playoff position.
Unfortunately, Memphis faced a swift exit in the playoffs, falling 4-0 to the top-seeded team. Iisalo’s tenure hit a snag when standout player Ja Morant was sidelined due to a hip injury during crucial moments of Games 3 and 4, impacting a commanding lead.
As Iisalo steps into this role, he faces the challenge of navigating a tough Western Conference, especially in light of the drama surrounding Jenkins’ firing. Fortunately, the core players, including Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, are all under contract for the upcoming season, and they’ll be looking to enhance their performance with Iisalo’s leadership.
