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Observer
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Omani Coaches attend International basketball course
MUSCAT, MAY 24 Two Omani coaches, Mohammed bin Mubarak al Awaisi from Al Amerat Club and Majid bin Omar al Balushi from Salalah Club, participated in the International Coaches Course held over two days at the Umm Al Hassam Basketball Hall in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The course was led by veteran Serbian coach Saša Obradović and coach Jelena, and featured a distinguished group of coaches from across the Gulf and Arab countries. The participation of the Omani coaches was supported by the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) through a training grant provided by the Technical Development Committee. This initiative comes as part of the association's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of national coaching talent and to provide them with opportunities to explore the latest coaching concepts and methods at regional and international levels. The Technical Development Committee emphasised that this participation falls under its strategic plan to support and qualify Omani coaches through specialised programmes that strengthen their presence in the sports field. In a statement, coach Mohammed al Awaisi expressed his gratitude for this exceptional training opportunity, saying: 'The course was an enriching experience in every sense. We had the rare chance to engage with highly experienced coaches and explore advanced concepts in both offensive and defensive strategies. What stood out to me the most was the strong focus on the details of decision-making during the game and how to manage pressure in critical moments.' He added Such participation boosts the confidence of Omani coaches and provides them with modern tools that can be applied in developing our local teams. I thank the Oman Basketball Association for this initiative and hope this type of course continues, as it truly makes a difference in developing national competencies. The course included a number of theoretical and practical sessions. The first day focused on building a defensive system, the coach's role in leadership and decision-making from the bench, and concluded with an interactive discussion session on defensive philosophy and its real-life applications. The second day was dedicated to offensive aspects, covering how to deal with defensive switches and how to build both team and individual offense, followed by an open discussion on offensive schemes and tactical adjustments. The course provided participants, including the Omani coaches, with direct access to the expertise of Obradović, who has been named EuroCup Coach of the Year. They benefited from rich discussions and hands-on applications that deepened their technical and tactical understanding and enhanced their leadership abilities.
Miami Herald
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Grizzlies tab Tuomas Iisalo as head coach
The Memphis Grizzlies made Tuomas Iisalo's stay behind the bench a permanent one by naming him the Grizzlies' head coach on Friday. "I have full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going forward," general manager Zach Kleiman said in a statement. "Tuomas' teams at every level have been disciplined, tenacious and connected on both ends of the floor, consistently exceeding expectations. We look forward to the same in Memphis." The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on March 28 despite the club's 44-29 record at the time and named Iisalo interim head coach. Under Iisalo, the Grizzlies went 4-5, finishing 48-34 in the regular season and making the playoffs via the play-in tournament before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Iisalo, 42, joined the Grizzlies as an assistant under Jenkins ahead of this past season. He was coming off a stint as the head coach of Paris Basketball in 2024, when he was named EuroCup Coach of the Year in his native Finland. The hire makes him the first NBA coach born in Finland. Iisalo, who had a 14-year professional playing career in Finland, has big shoes to fill. Jenkins, 40, is the winningest coach in Grizzlies' franchise history with a 250-214 record with three playoff appearances since being hired in June 2019. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
03-05-2025
- Sport
Tuomas Iisalo hired as Grizzlies coach after taking over the team near the end of the season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Tuomas Iisalo, who was appointed interim coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in the waning days of the regular season, was given the full-time job on Friday and becomes the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA. The team announced the hiring on Friday but terms of Iisalo's contract were not released. He joined the Grizzlies as the lead assistant this past season. Iisalo took over the team on March 28 after the Grizzlies returned home from an 0-5 road trip, the last loss coming at Oklahoma City. The road trip led to the firing of Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in Grizzlies franchise history. 'I have full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going forward,' Grizzlies president Zach Kleiman said in a statement. 'Tuomas' teams at every level have been disciplined, tenacious and connected on both ends of the floor, consistently exceeding expectations. We look forward to the same in Memphis.' Iisalo, a native of Finland, was 4-5 in the final nine games of the regular season. Memphis split two games in the play-in tournament, earning the eighth seed and faced Oklahoma City, to whom they lost all four games. But Iisalo was forced into a tough situation, facing a hard schedule late in the season with little time to make changes. The team only had a few practices under his direction. 'We had 15 games and two practices, and I tried to do my best in those,' he said after the team's elimination. Later, regarding the frantic pace of the season, he added: 'That's a ratio that makes it very difficult. We were in a situation that there were no drastic changes that we needed to make or could be made in that situation.' Before joining the Grizzlies, Iisalo served one season as coach of Paris Basketball, winning the EuroCup championship. The success earned him EuroCup Coach of the Year. In addition to his season with Paris Basketball, he had stints with teams in Germany, including five seasons with Crailsheim Merlins. Iisalo played 14 season of professional basketball in Finland. After this season ended, the short term leadership of Iisalo seemed to gain a vote of confidence from several Grizzlies, including star Ja Morant. 'I feel like Tuomas is a good coach,' Morant said in the team's exit interviews. 'For me, going into my film sessions with him and just talking about the game of basketball, seeing and hearing that he sees the same thing I see out there on the floor. 'I wouldn't say its been surprising, but it's been very exciting.' In his postseason exit interview, Iisalo was discussing how he would run the team with the city and organization in mind. 'Every club and every city has their own culture,' Iisalso said. "I think it is very important that you are true to the roots of that city. "This city is a hard-working city. The club has roots in that. It has to be based on giving everything you have. I've always believed in that.
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Tuomas Iisalo hired as Grizzlies coach after taking over at season's end
Tuomas Iisalo, who was appointed interim coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in the waning days of the regular season, was named the team's coach for next season, the organization announced Friday. Terms of Iisalo's contract were not released. He joined the team as the lead assistant this past season. Iisalo took over the team on March 28 after the Grizzlies returned home from an 0-5 road trip, the last loss coming at Oklahoma City. The road trip led to the firing of Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in Grizzlies franchise history. Iisalo, a native of Finland, was 4-5 in the final nine games of the regular season. Memphis split two games in the play-in tournament, earning the eighth seed to face Oklahoma City, to whom they lost all four games. Before joining the Grizzlies, Iisalo served one season as coach of Paris Basketball, winning the EuroCup championship. The success earned him EuroCup Coach of the Year. In addition to his season with Paris Basketball, he had stints with teams in Germany, including five seasons with Crailsheim Merlins. Iisalo played 14 seasons of professional basketball in his native Finland. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
New York Post
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Grizzlies make historic coaching decision hiring Tuomas Iisalo after Taylor Jenkins drama
The Grizzlies made history by naming Tuomas Iisalo their next head coach as he's now the first Finnish-born head coach in NBA history. The Grizzlies announced the move Friday afternoon. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. 'I have full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going forward,' said Grizzlies President and General Manager of Basketball Operations Zachary Z. Kleiman. 'Tuomas' teams at every level have been disciplined, tenacious and connected on both ends of the floor, consistently exceeding expectations. We look forward to the same in Memphis.' 3 Tuomas Iisalo took over as the Grizzlies' interim head coach just over a month ago before signing on officially for the role on Friday. NBAE via Getty Images Iisalo was originally hired by Memphis in the summer of 2024 as the team's lead assistant after a successful coaching career overseas. In his first season coaching Paris Basketball in 2023-24, Iisalo led the team to the 2023-24 EuroCup championship and won EuroCup Coach of the Year. As for his playing career prior to coaching, the Helsinki native played 14 years in Finland and won the 2009 Finnish Cup. He also played 57 games for the Finnish men's national team. Iisalo took over interim head coaching duties near the end of this season when Memphis shockingly fired Taylor Jenkins in late March. 3 Taylor Jenkins was shockingly fired near the end of the Grizzlies' season. AP Jenkins left the franchise as the winningest coach in its history and was the fifth-longest tenured coach in the NBA. Jenkins had led the Grizzlies to a 44-29 record and fifth place in the Western Conference before his firing. With Jenkins' firing coming so late in the season, Memphis played just nine regular season games with Iisalo leading the way. The Grizzlies went 4-5 in those games to finish the season at 48-34. They went 1-1 in the West's Play-in Tournament, losing to the Warriors before beating the Mavericks and securing the last spot in the conference. Memphis was then swept 4-0 by the top-seeded Thunder — losing Ja Morant to a hip injury for much of Game 3 after amassing a 29-point lead with him in that game and for all of Game 4. 3 Jaren Jackson Jr. (left) and Ja Morant (right) headline the Grizzlies' roster. NBAE via Getty Images Iisalo may have his work cut out for him in the loaded Western Conference, especially as there was some drama that seemed to be what forced Jenkins out just a month ago. The core of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane is all still under contract heading into next season and will look to improve under Iisalo's tutelage.
