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.
Coaching career
Kouvot
After 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.
[ Toijalasta Kouvojen päävalmentaja, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 21 March 2006]
Kataja Basket
In 2010, Toijala decided to stay in
Finland and signed a deal with Finnish team
Kataja BC.
[ Jukka Toijalan Kataja-pesti varmistui, basket.fi, 10 June 2010] He departed the club in 2016.
[ Luottamuspula päätti Toijalan pestin - "Olen roikkunut kuusi viikkoa löysässä hirressä" Suvi Hakkarainen (Yle Urheilu), 17 May 2016. Accessed 15 January 2020. ][ Toijala potkuistaan: Päällimmäiset tunteet ovat valtava pettymys ja suru Jani Leinonen (karjalainen.fi), 17 May 2016. Accessed 15 January 2020. ]
Steaua Bucaresti
Toijala worked as the head coach of Steaua București in the Romanian first league from 2016 until 2018.
Toijala led Steaua to the finals of the Romanian league twice, eventually falling short on both occasions.
[ Pieti Poikolan kommentti: Romanian koripallokulttuuri on kova koulu, jossa valmentaja Jukka Toijala niittää menestystä, Yle, 22 June 2018] 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.
[ Susijengi-valmentaja poliittisten erimielisyyksien keskellä Romaniassa – potkut ja haaste oikeuteen!, MTV Oy, 3 October 2018]
Trefl Sopot
After his release, he worked as a head coach of Polish club
Trefl Sopot of the Polish Basketball League in 2018–2019.
[ 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]
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
On 23 October 2019, Jukka Toijala was named the head coach of the Estonia senior national team.
Toijala led Estonia to qualify for EuroBasket 2022 final tournament, where the team eventually finished 19th place.
[ Estonia team profile, FIBA] 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.
[ 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]
Yokohama B-Corsairs (assistant)
In 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 1 as the assistant coach.
[ 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
Videos
