Taylor Jenkins

Taylor Jenkins

Memphis Grizzlies
Position	Head coach
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1984-09-12) September 12, 1984 (age 40) Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
High school	St. Mark's School (Dallas, Texas)
Coaching career	2008–present
Career history
As coach:
2008–2012	Austin Toros (assistant)
2012–2013	Austin Toros
2013–2018	Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
2018–2019	Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)
2019–present	Memphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
As head coach: NBA D-League champion (2012)

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

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

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

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

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

1. 2007: 251st Commencement (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. p. 33. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
2. 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. "NBA.com Taylor Jenkins". www.nba.com.
5. "Hawks Add Jenkins to Coaching Staff". NBA.com. July 11, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
6. "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.