Blake Ahearn Leaves Austin Spurs to Join Memphis Grizzlies Coaching Staff
Austin Spurs head coach Blake Ahearn is officially moving on from the G League up to the NBA. Ahearn was recently announced as becoming a new member of the Memphis Grizzlies’ coaching staff. The former college basketball player will take his talents to Memphis after three years with the Spurs’ G League team. The Grizzlies will be amongst potential playoff teams with the San Antonio Spurs should the NBA return to action next month.
Memphis Grizzlies Add Austin Spurs Head Coach Blake Ahearn
According to a report from NBA.com, Blake Ahearn will leave his job as head coach of the Austin Spurs to become an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. Ahearn originally began his coaching with the San Antonio Spurs’ G League affiliate squad back in 2017. He helped guide the team to the G League title in the 2018 season.
In 2019, the Austin Spurs were also the first G League team to ever play in the FIFA International Cup. They’d end up losing in the semi-final round to Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
After the news of his new coaching job arrived, Ahearn delivered a special thank you video message which the Austin Spurs tweeted out.
In addition to coaching, Ahearn also played in the NBA for three seasons with the Miami Heat, Spurs, and Utah Jazz. However, he participated in just 19 total games for his career, averaging 4.6 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in nearly 12 minutes per game. He participated in three playoff games with the Jazz in 2012.
Ahearn is also a former D-League All-Star Game co-MVP and played for the Spurs’ affiliate Austin Toros back in 2008-09, as well as the Dakota Wizards. In addition, he played with several teams abroad including Estudiantes Madrid, Budivelnyk Kyiv, and Capitanes de Arecibo.
Prior to that, Blake was a recognized collegiate star with the Missouri State Bears from 2003-2007 and still holds two NCAA Division I records. Those are the all-time free throw percentage of 94.6 percent and single-season free throw percentage of 97.5 percent.
This past year, Ahearn coached the Austin Spurs team to a 24-18 record before the G League suspended and later canceled the rest of the 2019-20 season.
Grizzlies’ Coaching Staff Gets Boost Ahead of NBA’s Potential Return
It’s an upgrade for Blake Ahearn as well as the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were holding onto the eighth spot in the Western Conference prior to the NBA suspending the season which occurred back in March when Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
Now the team is looking towards a potential resumption of the season in Orlando, Florida in late July. This NBA season return plan would also include the San Antonio Spurs who are one of five Western Conference teams within striking distance of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Ahearn will now be a part of the Grizzlies coaching staff where he will work alongside head coach Taylor Jenkins. Both have ties with the Austin Toros as Jenkins served as an assistant from 2008 until 2012 when he became their head coach for a season. Jenkins also served as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2007–08 season. Be sure to visit our Spurs news page for more of the latest updates on the team and its players.