NBA: Ranking every active head coach by playing career

March 23, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 23, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taylor Jenkins
Taylor Jenkins (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Every NBA head coach ranked by playing career: 29. Taylor Jenkins

Taking a step up from the likes of college manager, Taylor Jenkins was an accomplished high school player. He attended a private school in Dallas, Texas and he was the captain of the basketball team. He was the style of player that would have fit into a previous generation of Memphis Grizzlies basketball.

Jenkins was the hardest worker on the team, willing to grit and grind to get his team, St. Mark’s, plenty of victories.

Jenkins went to the University of Pennsylvania, but only played at the intermural level and almost immediately began his path into coaching. This road did not take long, as Jenkins is just the second-youngest coach in the NBA and has already been a part of the league for 12 seasons in some form or fashion.

This hardnosed, grinder attitude has endeared him to his players from the beginning. Showing them that he is the hardest working man in the building goes much further than any sort of collegiate accolades could. Being able to connect with the fans of the Grit’n’Grind Memphis Grizzlies does not hurt matters either.