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Taylor Jenkins

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Taylor Jenkins
Memphis Grizzlies
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1984-09-12) September 12, 1984 (age 40)
Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
High schoolSt. Mark's School
(Dallas, Texas)
Coaching career2008–present
Career history
As coach:
2008–2012Austin Toros (assistant)
2012–2013Austin Toros
20132018Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
2018–2019Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)
2019–presentMemphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
As head coach:

Taylor Vetter Jenkins[1] (born September 12, 1984) is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Early life and education

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Jenkins attended the St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas. He was a two-time captain on their basketball team, where he played as an undersized 6-foot-3-inch (1.91 m) forward.[2] He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor's of Science in economics while concentrating in management and minoring in psychology.[2][3] He did not play college basketball.[2]

Coaching career

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Jenkins interned with the San Antonio Spurs basketball operations department during the 2007–08 season.[4]

From 2008 to 2013, Jenkins worked as an assistant coach and a head coach for the San Antonio Spurs D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. As the head coach, Jenkins led the Toros to a 27–23 (.540) record during the 2012–13 season and a first-round playoff victory over the Bakersfield Jam before falling to the Santa Cruz Warriors in the semifinals. In 2011–2012, Jenkins was an assistant on the coaching staff when the Toros won the D-League Championship.[4]

On July 11, 2013, Jenkins was hired as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under head coach Mike Budenholzer.[5] The Hawks reached the playoffs four consecutive years including a trip to the NBA Eastern Conference finals in 2015. Jenkins helped develop four of the Hawks 2015 starting five into NBA All-Stars (four starters appeared on the 2015 NBA All-Star roster).[6] Jenkins later followed Budenholzer to be an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018–19 NBA season.[7][8] The Bucks finished with a league best 60 wins, and clinched the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 45 years.[9]

His name was brought into the spotlight when an ESPN clip showed Jenkins springing up from the bench to hold the players back during a small on-court scuffle. The video led to a profile of him in The Athletic.[10]

Jenkins also served as an assistant coach for the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star Team and NBA World Team (Rising Stars) in 2015.[6] Also, in August 2016, Jenkins participated in the Americas Team Camp presented by Nike in Mexico City. The camp consisted of four days of basketball drills and competition conducted by NBA players and coaches.[11]

Memphis Grizzlies

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On June 11, 2019, the Memphis Grizzlies hired Jenkins as their new head coach.[12] The Memphis Commercial Appeal called the hire a "defining moment for owner Robert Pera," as well as the front office.[13]

Jenkins was named the Western Conference's Coach of the Month in both January 2020 and December 2021.[14][15] In 2022, the Grizzlies won their division for the first time in franchise history.

On June 13, 2022, the Grizzlies signed Jenkins to a multi-year contract extension.[16]

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Memphis 2019–20 73 34 39 .466 3rd in Southwest Missed playoffs
Memphis 2020–21 72 38 34 .528 2nd in Southwest 5 1 4 .200 Lost in first round
Memphis 2021–22 82 56 26 .683 1st in Southwest 12 6 6 .500 Lost in conference semifinals
Memphis 2022–23 82 51 31 .622 1st in Southwest 6 2 4 .333 Lost in first round
Memphis 2023–24 82 27 55 .329 4th in Southwest Missed playoffs
Career 391 206 185 .527   23 9 14 .391  

References

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  1. ^ 2007: 251st Commencement (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. p. 33. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Rodriguez, Ken (September 25, 2012). "Taylor Jenkins: An Ivy Leaguer's Rise". NBA.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Johnson, Greg (June 12, 2019). "Wharton alum is new coach of NBA's Memphis Grizzlies". Penn Today. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "NBA.com Taylor Jenkins". www.nba.com.
  5. ^ "Hawks Add Jenkins to Coaching Staff". NBA.com. July 11, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Taylor Jenkins - Official Booking Agent, Speaker, Agency, Representative". Kauffman Sports. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  7. ^ "Bucks Name Assistant Coaching Staff". NBA.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer fills staff with ex-Hawks". NBA.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  9. ^ "Echoes of '74: Giannis, Bucks clinch best record". ESPN.com. April 5, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Nehm, Eric. "Buck stops here: No Milwaukee players are getting suspended..." The Athletic. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Hawks Assistant Jenkins To Participate In Americas Team Camp". NBA.com. August 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  12. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies name Taylor Jenkins head coach". NBA.com. June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "The Grizzlies' hiring of Taylor Jenkins is defining moment for owner Robert Pera, new front office". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Grizzlies' Taylor Jenkins named Western Conference Coach of the Month for January". NBA.com. February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Grizzlies' Taylor Jenkins named Western Conference Coach of the Month for January". NBA.com. April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Head Coach Taylor Jenkins to multi-year contract extension". NBA.com. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.