The Memphis Grizzlies have parted ways with coach Taylor Jenkins, the team announced Friday.
The move comes as a surprise as the Grizzlies (44-29) are No. 5 in the Western Conference and are assured of their fourth winning season with Jenkins at the helm.
Memphis has not named Jenkins’ successor, but the Grizzlies assistant coaching staff includes Anthony Carter, Erik Schmidt, Noah LaRoche, Tuomas Iisalo, Pat St. Andrews, Jason March, Joe Boylan and Patrick Mutombo.
“I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons,” Grizzlies president and GM of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision, given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership. I wish Taylor the very best going forward.”
The @memgrizz today announced they have parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins. pic.twitter.com/92PAK2NssN
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 28, 2025
Jenkins, who became the team’s winningest coach in November, but the team has moved on from him as Memphis is struggling down the stretch and at risk of losing home-court advantage in the playoffs.
The Grizzlies struggled on a recent West Coast road trip as they lost the first two games at Sacramento and in Portland and still have games left in Los Angeles against the Clippers, at Utah and against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder before returning home March 29 to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jenkins was 250-214 in six seasons with Memphis and guided them to the playoffs in 2021, ’22 and ’23 and was on pace to do so again this season.
Jenkins served in various roles with the San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks before being named coach of the Grizzlies in June 2019. He made it to the Western Conference postseason three years in a row before injuries sidelined the streak in 2023-24.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
