History of Tuomas Iisalo in Timeline

Tuomas Iisalo is a Finnish basketball coach currently serving as the interim head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Prior to this role, he was an assistant coach for the Grizzlies under Taylor Jenkins. He is also a former basketball player.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

July 1982: Birth of Tuomas Iisalo

In July 1982, Tuomas Iisalo was born. He would later become a Finnish professional basketball coach and former player.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Started Senior Playing Career

In 2000, Tuomas Iisalo began his senior playing career with Kouvot in Korisliiga, marking the start of his professional basketball involvement.

2009: Won the Finnish Cup

In 2009, Tuomas Iisalo won the Finnish Cup with Kouvot, marking a significant achievement in his playing career.

2013: Retirement from playing

After the 2013-14 season, Tuomas Iisalo retired from playing professional basketball, transitioning towards coaching.

March 2016: Signed with Crailsheim Merlins

In March 2016, Tuomas Iisalo moved to Germany and signed with Crailsheim Merlins in the Basketball Bundesliga, aiming to save the team from relegation.

2017: Crailsheim promoted to Bundesliga

At the end of the 2017-18 ProA season, Tuomas Iisalo coached Crailsheim Merlins and they were promoted back to Bundesliga as the runners-up, marking a successful coaching achievement.

2019: Joonas Iisalo Joins as Associate Coach

In early 2019, Joonas Iisalo, Tuomas's brother, joined the Crailsheim Merlins as an associate coach, strengthening the coaching team.

2020: Bundesliga Playoff Berth

In the 2020-21 season, Tuomas Iisalo guided the Crailsheim Merlins to their first ever Bundesliga playoff berth, despite having one of the league's lowest budgets.

May 2021: Signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn

In May 2021, Tuomas Iisalo signed a two-year deal with Bundesliga side Telekom Baskets Bonn, marking a new chapter in his coaching career.

2021: Sister Won Literature Prize

In 2021, Tuomas Iisalo's older sister, Meri Valkama, a journalist, won the literature prize of Helsingin Sanomat for the best debut novel in Finland with her book "Sinun, Margot", a story of a family in East Berlin.

Sinun, Margot

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2022: Bundesliga Coach of the Year

In 2022, Tuomas Iisalo was named the Bundesliga Coach of the Year after finishing 3rd in the regular season with Bonn, recognizing his coaching success.

May 2023: Won FIBA Champions League with Bonn

In May 2023, Tuomas Iisalo won the FIBA Champions League with Telekom Baskets Bonn and was presented with the Basketball Champions League Best Coach honors, reaching the Bundesliga finals but ultimately falling short to Ulm.

May 2023: Coach of the Year in LNB Pro A

In May of 2023, Tuomas Iisalo was named coach of the year in LNB Pro A, after leading Paris to the record streak of 25 consecutive games unbeaten.

June 2023: Appointed Head Coach of Paris Basketball

On June 29, 2023, Paris Basketball of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroCup announced the appointment of Tuomas Iisalo as head coach on a three-year deal.

December 2023: Head Coach of Team World in LNB All-Star Game

In December 2023, Tuomas Iisalo was named the head coach of the Team World (Team Monde) in the LNB All-Star Game, recognizing his coaching influence.

February 2024: Won LNB Pro A Leaders Cup

On February 18, 2024, Tuomas Iisalo and Paris Basketball won the 2024 LNB Pro A Leaders Cup title, defeating Nanterre 90-85 in the final, showcasing his coaching success.

April 2024: Won EuroCup Title

On April 12, 2024, Tuomas Iisalo led Paris Basketball to win the 2023–24 EuroCup title, beating JL Bourg-en-Bresse with 2–0 wins in the finals, and earning a place for the next season in the EuroLeague.

April 2024: EuroCup Coach of the Year

On April 6, 2024, Tuomas Iisalo was voted the EuroCup Coach of the Year, leading Paris to the 2024 EuroCup Finals with a record-tying 20 wins and only one loss, with the highest team average (98.4 points per game) in EuroCup history.

June 2024: LNB Pro A Finals

In June 2024, Tuomas Iisalo led Paris to the LNB Pro A Finals, marking another significant achievement in his coaching career.

June 2024: Lecturer at Basketball Coaching Clinic

In late June 2024, Tuomas Iisalo was a coach lecturer in the Dušan Ivković Basketball Coaching Clinic in Belgrade, Serbia, teaching offense and discussing pick and roll defense.

July 2024: Named Assistant Coach for Memphis Grizzlies

On July 8, 2024, Tuomas Iisalo was named as assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, responsible for the team's offense, and becoming the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA.

2024: Coach of the Year in Finland

In 2024, Tuomas Iisalo was voted Coach of the Year in Finland by Finnish sports journalists, recognizing his contributions to basketball.

March 2025: Promoted to Interim Head Coach

On March 28, 2025, Tuomas Iisalo was promoted to interim head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies after Taylor Jenkins was fired, despite the team having a strong record and being likely to enter the NBA playoffs.