Grizzlies Retain Tuomas Iisalo as Coach, For Better or Worse

The Memphis Grizzlies are sticking with what may or may not have worked.

Tuomas Iisalo, who stepped in as interim head coach following the late-season firing of Taylor Jenkins, is shedding the interim tag. The Grizzlies made it official in a team statement.

“I have full confidence in Tuomas serving as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies going forward,” GM Zach Kleiman said. “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 snuck into the playoffs and were quickly dispatched in four games by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

There’s no word on whether the players are on board with the move, though it’s believed team stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are fans of Iisalo.

The Grizzlies have a lot to figure out this offseason. For better or worse, they’ve at least decided on a coach.