David Fizdale Becomes NBA Head Coach For First Time, Taking Over Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have been looking to fill their head coaching vacancy. They recently decided to fire head coach Dave Joerger after three seasons with the team. Miami Heat assistant coach David Fizdale has been offered the vacant head coaching position for the Grizzlies. According to NBA.com, Fizdale has come to an agreement with Grizzlies management to become the new head coach of the team. The Grizzlies are looking to start fresh with Joerger out of the picture. Grizzlies management had their interview with Fizdale on Tuesday.

Very few people in the NBA thought that the Memphis Grizzlies would be one of the teams looking for a new head coach this offseason. Dave Joerger is considered a very brilliant basketball mind. Unfortunately, though, people were not privy to the fact that Joerger had been battling with management over how the roster was put together. After letting Joerger go, the Grizzlies targeted former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, but he decided to become the new head coach of the Orlando Magic.

According to ESPN, David Fizdale had emerged as a co-finalist for the head coaching vacancy for the Memphis Grizzlies along with San Antonio Spurs assistant coach James Borrego.

David Fizdale’s first interview with Memphis Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace was a positive one. Fizdale had earned himself an additional interview with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. We can assume that the meeting with Pera went well. The Grizzlies have offered Fizdale the job of their vacant head coaching position.

David Fizdale began his career in the Miami Heat’s video room. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of San Diego. Fizdale spent four years there. He spent a year with the Golden State Warriors and then joined the Atlanta Hawks for four years. Fizdale decided to come back to the Heat to serve as an assistant coach under Erik Spoelstra. He has been with the Heat for eight seasons. The last two seasons, Fizdale served as an associate head coach. He was in charge of player development and game preparation.

The Memphis Grizzlies are hoping they’ve found a gem in David Fizdale. The Grizzlies roster might look very different next season. They have a lot of players who are free agents this upcoming summer. The Grizzlies have Marc Gasol on their pay roll. He just signed a new contract last summer. Now, they have to set their sights on resigning Mike Conley.

David Fizdale’s first task is to try to convince Mike Conley to come back to the team. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star is one of the most sought out players in free agency. Conley hasn’t rule out returning to the Memphis Grizzlies. He has been a very steady player for the team since he came into the NBA. If Conley were to re-sign with the team, Fizdale would have a star point guard to run his offensive system.

David Fizdale has one of the best centers in the NBA. Marc Gasol has been a force in the low post. It will be interesting to see if Fizdale will start both Gasol and Zach Randolph. Most teams in the National Basketball Association are playing with small lineups now. Randolph is an old school power forward. He is too slow to defend the perimeter. Other teams will be able to take advantage of Randolph.

The Memphis Grizzlies lost both their star players this season due to injuries. With their star players out, the team still managed to make it into the NBA Playoffs. That says a lot about the Grizzlies roster. The Grizzlies have some young players on their team who could benefit from David Fizdale. He did an amazing job with the Miami Heat.

This will be David Fizdale’s first head coaching job in the NBA. He has spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach in the National Basketball Association. Fizdale might be in a good situation if the Memphis Grizzlies bring back Mike Conley. He will have two star players to build around. Fizdale has earned praise from former players who were with the Miami Heat.

[Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]