Only 9 games before the start of the playoffs, we learned some shocking news! The Memphis Grizzlies and head coach, Taylor Jenkins, had parted ways. Following the Luka Doncic trade, this may be the most shocking thing to happen this season. But worried Memphis fans’ fears were allayed once they learned that assistant coach Tumoas Iisalo would be taking over as the interim coach for the Grizzlies.
And if you’re among those who still aren’t on board with the new coach, perhaps you’ll change your mind once you find out the incredible pedigree of the Iisalo family. So let’s waste no time and learn more about the interim Grizzlies coach’s family.
Who is Tuomas Iisalo’s Brother Joonas? Is He a Famous Basketball Coach?
If you thought Tuomas Iisalo was the only basketball mastermind in the family, think again. His younger brother, Joonas Iisalo, is quietly making a name for himself in the coaching world too. Born in 1986, Joonas started as a player but soon found his calling on the sidelines, just like his big brother.
For years, Joonas worked alongside Tuomas, first at the Crailsheim Merlins and later at Telekom Baskets Bonn. But in 2022, he decided it was time to take the reins himself and became the head coach of MLP Academics Heidelberg in Germany’s top league. Clearly, he did something right because Heidelberg extended his contract through 2026.
And his leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Joonas is an excellent basketball professional who identifies with our goals and our direction,” said Matthias Lautenschläger, Managing Partner of MLP Academics. “Continuity in this fundamentally important position is of paramount importance for our medium- to long-term success.”
Growing up, the Iisalo brothers were all about basketball. “My brother and I, we would spend every day working on our jump shots,” Joonas recalled. “We watched the best shooters—Reggie Miller, Allan Houston—studied their movements frame by frame on VHS, then tried to copy their form in the backyard.” Looks like all that practice paid off! And who knows? Maybe we’ll see the brothers coach against each other in the NBA someday.
But don’t think that these two are the only overachievers in the Iisalo family.
Who is Tuomas Iisalo’s Sister Meri Valkama? Everything About the Award-Winning Journalist
Not everyone in the Iisalo family chose basketball. Tuomas and Joonas may have dominated the court, but their older sister, Meri Valkama, took a different path—one that led her to the literary world. And she’s been just as successful. In 2021, she won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize for the best debut novel in Finland with Sinun, Margot.
The novel tells the story of a family whose father worked as a foreign correspondent in East Berlin during the 1980s—something Meri knows all about. Their own father had the same job, and her childhood experiences shaped the book’s narrative.
A mix of historical fiction and family drama, Sinun, Margot explores life before and after the fall of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It’s more than just a personal story or an autobiographical piece. It also digs into deeper themes like political ideologies and what freedom really means.
Critics have raved about it, with one calling it “a truly accomplished debut novel, a sure-fire page-turner.” Given Meri’s background in political science and journalism, it’s no surprise she was able to craft such a gripping, well-researched story.
With such a talented group of siblings, you have to wonder, who are the parents that raised them?
Who Are Tuomas Iisalo’s Parents?
What we do know is that their father worked as a foreign correspondent in East Berlin in the 1980s. His experiences clearly had a lasting impact, inspiring Meri’s award-winning novel and giving the family an international perspective. But beyond that, details are scarce.
As for their mother? That’s even more of a mystery. There’s no public information available about her. One thing’s for sure, though—the Iisalo upbringing shaped three incredibly successful individuals in very different fields.
Is Tuomas Iisalo Married? Does He Have Any Kids?
Yes, Tuomas Iisalo is a family man! According to Wikipedia, he’s married and has three kids. That’s about as much as we know, though; he keeps his personal life pretty private. It makes sense, considering his status as a coach in the best basketball league in the world. And now, he’ll have even more eyes on him as the head coach for the Grizzlies.
Nevertheless, among basketball, literature, and journalism, one thing is clear: the Iisalo family is packed with talent. Whether it’s on the court, in the pages of a book, or behind a news article, they’re leaving their mark on the world their own unique ways.
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