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Memphis Grizzlies hire Tuomas Iisalo as next head coach

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated May 3, 2025 12:08 PM ET

Taylor Jenkins did good things in Memphis in six seasons as head coach, but the Grizzlies have moved on.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday that the franchise has named interim Tuomas Iisalo as its next head coach.

Iisalo replaced Jenkins in an interim role in March, but the team feels comfortable moving forward with him.

The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring interim Tuomas Iisalo as the franchise’s next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Iisalo replaced Taylor Jenkins as interim in late March and is now the first Finnish-born head coach in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/4xdAImXix3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2025

He becomes the first Finnish-born head coach in NBA history. The 42-year-old was a shooting guard for professional basketball teams in Finland from 2000-14, winning a Finnish Cup in 2009 for the Espoon Honka. Iisaola has earned several coaching accolades internationally, but now he gets an opportunity to lead a program with a superstar point guard in Ja Morant.

Jenkins guided the Grizzlies to the playoffs in three of six seasons before getting fired. Iisalo coached Memphis in its last nine regular season games, through the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, and its first-round playoff series versus Oklahoma City.

We will now see what he can do for years to come as the guy.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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