Jukka Toijala (born 9 May 1972) is a Finnish professional basketball coach and former player, who is currently working as the assistant coach of the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's B.League. Previously he worked as the head coach of the Estonia national team during 2019–2024.
![]() Toijala coaching Kataja in 2010. | |
Yokohama B-Corsairs | |
---|---|
Position | Assistant coach |
League | B.League |
Personal information | |
Born | Kouvola, Finland | 9 May 1972
Nationality | Finnish |
Career information | |
Playing career | 1993–2006 |
Position | Guard |
Coaching career | 2006–present |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1993–1997 | Kouvot[1] |
1998 | Echo Houthalen[2] |
1998–2000 | Kouvot |
2001–2003 | Kataja |
2003–2006 | Kouvot |
As coach: | |
2006–2010 | Kouvot |
2010–2016 | Kataja |
2010–2019 | Finland (assistant) |
2016–2018 | Steaua Bucuresti |
2018–2019 | Trefl Sopot |
2019 | HBA-Märsky |
2019–2024 | Estonia |
2024–present | Yokohama B-Corsairs (assistant) |
Coaching career
editKouvot
editAfter announcing his retirement from playing career, Toijala stayed in Kouvola with Kouvot and was named the head coach of the team in March 2006, after Risto Piipari.[3]
Kataja Basket
editIn 2010, Toijala decided to stay in Finland and signed a deal with Finnish team Kataja Basket.[4] He departed the club in 2016.[5][6]
Steaua Bucaresti
editToijala worked as the head coach of Steaua București in the Romanian first league from 2016 until 2018.[7] Toijala led Steaua to the finals of the Romanian league twice, eventually falling short on both occasions.[8] Due to political turmoil inside the club, Toijala was released in October 2018. The club later sued Toijala and four players under contract to the court to avoid paying them salaries for the ongoing 2018–19 season.[9]
Trefl Sopot
editAfter his release, he worked as a head coach of Polish club Trefl Sopot in 2018–2019.[10][11]
In 2019, Toijala worked briefly also as the head coach of HBA-Märsky in the Finnish second league.
During 2010–2019, Toijala worked also as the assistant coach of the senior Finnish national basketball team.
Estonia
editOn 23 October 2019, Jukka Toijala was named the head coach of the Estonia senior national team.[12] Toijala led Estonia to qualify for EuroBasket 2022 final tournament, where the team eventually finished 19th place.[13] After a successful three-year spell, it was announced on 23 November 2022 that Toijala had extended his contract with Estonia, signing a deal until the end of February 2026.[14][15]
Yokohama B-Corsairs (assistant)
editIn late June 2024, Toijala invoked a foreign transfer release clause in his contract, and joined the coaching staff of Lassi Tuovi in Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's B.League First Division as the assistant coach.[16][17][18]
References
edit- ^ Jukka Toijala, player stats, basket.fi
- ^ Toijala pelikelpoinen, mtvuutisetfi/MTV Oy, 18 December 1998
- ^ Toijalasta Kouvojen päävalmentaja, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 21 March 2006
- ^ Jukka Toijalan Kataja-pesti varmistui, basket.fi, 10 June 2010
- ^ Luottamuspula päätti Toijalan pestin - "Olen roikkunut kuusi viikkoa löysässä hirressä" Suvi Hakkarainen (Yle Urheilu), 17 May 2016. Accessed 15 January 2020. (in Finnish)
- ^ Toijala potkuistaan: Päällimmäiset tunteet ovat valtava pettymys ja suru Jani Leinonen (karjalainen.fi), 17 May 2016. Accessed 15 January 2020. (in Finnish)
- ^ "Steaua CSM EximBank, prima finalistă a Ligii Naționale de baschet. După 21 de ani, militarii luptă din nou pentru titlu". 11 May 2017.
- ^ Pieti Poikolan kommentti: Romanian koripallokulttuuri on kova koulu, jossa valmentaja Jukka Toijala niittää menestystä, Yle, 22 June 2018
- ^ Susijengi-valmentaja poliittisten erimielisyyksien keskellä Romaniassa – potkut ja haaste oikeuteen!, MTV Oy, 3 October 2018
- ^ Jukka Toijala Trefl Sopotin päävalmentajaksi, basket.fi, 27 November 2018
- ^ Suomalaisvalmentajalle jälleen potkut – työt Puolassa kestivät vain hieman yli kolme kuukautta, Satakunnan Kansa, 5 March 2019
- ^ "Eesti korvpallikoondise peatreeneriks sai soomlane". Sport (in Estonian). 23 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Estonia team profile, FIBA
- ^ Jukka Toijalalle pitkä jatkosopimus Viron päävalmentajana – ”Projekti on liikkunut oikeaan suuntaan”, suomikoris.com, 23 November 2022
- ^ Jukka Toijala selvitti, kuinka iso asia Liettua-voitto EM-karsinnassa oli Viron koripallolle, Yle, 27 February 2024
- ^ Jukka Toijala vahvistaa Yokohaman valmennusjohtoa, basket.fi, 20 June 2024
- ^ Jukka Toijala liittyy Lassi Tuovin valmennusryhmään, Yle, 20 June 2024
- ^ Tallinnan Kalamajasta Jokohaman satamakaupungin sykkeeseen – Jukka Toijala eksoottisen haasteen edessä, Kouvolan Sanomat, 28 June 2024
External links
editVideos
edit- Jukka Toijala - 19.4.2011 - Youtube.com video (in Finnish)