When the Grizzlies meet the Lakers on Saturday night at FedExForum, they’ll have a new head coach on the bench.
Taylor Jenkins was fired on Friday morning, and the Grizzlies have named Tuomas Iisalo interim coach for the rest of the season. Iisalo, 42, is in a unique situation, because the Grizzlies are headed to the playoffs even though they just fired their coach with only nine regular-season games left. That means Iisalo has only a couple weeks to get his feet under him as an NBA head coach before he starts coaching in the playoffs.
Here are a few things to know about the Grizzlies’ new coach.
Iisalo had an extensive career in Europe before coming to the NBA
Iisalo played professionally in his native Finland before becoming a coach in 2014. He was Paris Basketball’s coach in 2023-24 and left to become the Grizzlies’ lead assistant, his first job in the NBA. He became the first Finnish-born NBA coach when he arrived in Memphis.
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Iisalo won the EuroCup in 2024 and was named EuroCup coach of the year.
Iisalo has been an NBA head coach…for one game
Iisalo served as acting head coach for one game earlier this season when Jenkins had to miss a game because of a family situation.
What could change with Iisalo as Grizzlies’ coach?
Iisalo came to Memphis with a reputation as an innovative offensive coach. The Grizzlies’ offense has changed in 2024-25, with an emphasis on ball movement and less on the pick-and-roll game that had benefitted star Ja Morant during his best moments in the NBA.
Will Iisalo make any major changes now that he’s in charge? There isn’t much time before the playoffs, but that’ll be something to watch over Iisalo’s first few games.
Will Iisalo be a candidate for permanent head coach?
Iisalo was a hot commodity when he came to the Grizzlies last offseason, and he’s been well-known in NBA circles because of his success in Europe. While expectations for a team in the playoffs with an interim coach will always be low, Iisalo will have an opportunity to prove himself if Memphis can go on a run in the playoffs.
It’s still very early, and general manager Zach Kleiman will have time to conduct a thorough coaching search that will likely involve outside candidates and coaches with more experience than Iisalo. But the next few weeks could shape the way that search develops.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at [email protected] or on X @thejonahdylan.
