The Memphis Grizzlies have appointed Tuomas Iisalo as their head coach, as the team announced on Friday. Iisalo, who became the interim head coach at the end of March after the surprising firing of Taylor Jenkins, managed a record of 4-5 during his nine regular-season games.

The Grizzlies secured the No. 8 seed in the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament but were swept in the first round by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Following this disappointing outcome, questions regarding the head coaching position lingered, but Iisalo’s promotion resolves this matter.

At 42, Iisalo joined the Grizzlies as an assistant coach earlier this season, marking his debut coaching role in the NBA after coaching in Europe and having a notable playing career in Finland.

Despite a regular-season record of 48-34, the swift exit from the playoffs underscored the team’s need for significant improvements. Star guard Ja Morant had an injury during the playoffs, but he expressed strong support for Iisalo during the postseason, stating, “I feel like Tuomas is a good coach… he’s a big time competitor.”

This recent hiring of Iisalo follows a trend in the league where interim coaches are being offered permanent positions, such as the recent promotions for the Kings and the Spurs.

With their head coach firmly in place, the Grizzlies can now focus on addressing their roster for next season and continue their pursuit of a championship-contending team.