Basketball coach Tuomas Iisalo is moving to France after seven years spent in Germany. The coaching team follows Iisalo from Bonn to Paris.
Emma Hyuppa,
Jouko Vuolle
Successfully coached in the German basketball Bundesliga in recent years Tuomas Iisalo takes over as the head coach of the Paris Basketball club, which plays in the French premier league ProA, with a three-year contract.
– Three-year contracts are really rare for coaches in today’s basketball. The club’s trust in what I do is very high, especially in the long term, Iisalo, satisfied with his contract, says by phone.
The long contract was in the wishes of the 40-year-old family man, so that the everyday life of a family with three children could roll on in the same place for several years.
– As a metropolitan city, the good thing about Paris is that there are international schools. All three of our children go to a German school. My wife speaks French, so there were many things that clicked really well, says Iisalo.
Iisalo coached in Germany for seven years, first in Crailsheim and then in Bonn, which he piloted to the Champions League champion and German league silver in the season that ended. He was chosen as the coach of the year in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga.
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Iisalo is currently one of the best basketball coaches in Europe, which can also be seen in the bank account. Of course, it must be taken into account that living in Paris is significantly more expensive than in a smaller city.
– So far, each of my contracts has been bigger than the previous one, and that’s how it should be after such a season. The compensation, which is also paid for this dune, is in line with the challenges, stress, pressure and the displays so far, says Iisalo.
Home games in Europe’s finest hall
Founded in 2018, Paris Basketball was ninth in the ProA last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Eurocup.
– Paris Basketball is a really big challenge, but very motivating. The club has big goals and ambitions, and not just on the sporting side. They see that the club could become a global brand, says Iisalo.
Paris Basketball has not had any payment difficulties during its short history, on the contrary. Starting next February, the wealthy club will play its home games in the under construction luxury arena, where Olympic basketball will also be played in the summer of 2024.
– In my opinion, it is the finest basketball hall in Europe, an absolutely incredible-looking complex. It creates a very amazing framework for doing things, Iisalo enthuses.
Familiar assistant coaches followed
Iisalo brings not only his family to Paris from Bonn, but also his coaching team, when three assistant coaches move to France after the Finn.
According to Iisalo, it is important that the coaching group has worked together before. For players, the palette is less simple.
– We have two competitions next season, the rock-hard French Premier League and the Eurocup, which means 18 additional games. The extent of the player material must be at least the same as in Bonn or preferably more extensive. There is a lot of pressure to get both the scope of the player material and a sufficient amount of quality at the same time, says Iisalo.