Tuomas Iisalo is the first Finnish head coach in the North American basketball profile. In the past, he trained Telekom Baskets Bonn in the BBL.
As a temporary solution, Tuomas Iisalo convinced those responsible for the Memphis Grizzlies and remains head coach at the NBA club. This was announced by the franchise on Friday. Iisalo, who had led Bundesliga club Telekom Baskets Bonn in 2023 to the Champions League victory, is the first Finnish head coach in the North American basketball profile.
“I have full confidence in Tuomas,” said General Manager Zach Kleiman: “Tuomas’ teams were disciplined at all levels, persistent, stood together on both sides of the field and always exceeded expectations.”
After the dismissal of Taylor Jenkins, his assistant Iisalo had taken over the position at the end of March and had best failed with the grizzlies in the first round of the play-offs main round team Oklahoma City Thunder (0: 4). But the 42-year-old now gets the chance to continue to look after the team and prepare for the new season.
Iisalo moved from the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim to Bonn in 2021, then the coach in 2023/24 was on the sidelines at Paris Basketball and won the Eurocup. Iisalo has been working for the grizzlies since the previous year. After his entry, Memphis won four victories and collected nine defeats.