Memphis Grizzlies hire MIT women's coach Sonia Raman as assistant
The Memphis Grizzlies filled their remaining vacancy on Taylor Jenkins' staff by announcing Friday that they had hired Sonia Raman as an assistant coach.
Raman spent the past 12 seasons as the women's basketball coach at MIT. She is the program's all-time winningest coach with 152 victories and led MIT to its first appearances in the Division III NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2019 after winning the NEWMAC Conference championship both seasons.
Raman is the second female assistant coach in Grizzlies history, following Niele Ivey, and the 14th overall in NBA history. Ivey was hired in April as women's basketball coach at Notre Dame, her alma mater.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff. I can’t wait to get to Memphis and get started with Taylor, his staff and the team’s emerging young core,” Raman said in a release. “I must also give a truly special thank you to MIT and the women I’ve had the honor of coaching for the past 12 years. I wish the program continued success.”
A two-time NEWMAC Coach of the Year, Raman was 91-45 in her final five seasons and was the first MIT women's basketball coach to have multiple 20-win seasons. Her overall record at MIT is 152-155.
She played four seasons at Tufts, graduating in 1996, and received a juris doctor from Boston College Law School in 2001. Prior to MIT, she was an assistant coach at Tufts for two seasons and at Wellesley College for six seasons.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Sonia to the Memphis Grizzlies,” Jenkins said in the team's release. “She has a high basketball IQ and a tremendous ability to teach the game, as well as a strong passion for the game. She is going to be a great addition to our current coaching staff.”
Raman will begin with the Grizzlies on Nov. 1.