The Memphis Grizzlies have hired Mike Curtis as their new head of player health and performance. ## What happened?
The University of Virginia men's basketball account on X announced that Curtis, their longtime head strength and conditioning coach, is heading to Memphis. The Daily Memphian also shared the news via a Grizzlies spokesperson.
The Grizzlies are overhauling their sports medicine and training staff, with vice president and head of sports medicine Eric Oetter reportedly departing. Oetter spent a decade with the team and was praised for his work despite some of Memphis' recent injury woes.
Why it matters for Memphis Grizzlies
Curtis' role with the Grizzlies is a return to an organization he's familiar with, having been the head strength and conditioning coach for Memphis for six years in the 2000s. He was later the director of strength and conditioning for the athletic department at the University of Michigan. As part of his 17-year stint at UVA, he was also named the director for health, performance, optimization, and innovation in 2025.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Last result | Milwaukee Bucks 119-132 Memphis Grizzlies (2025-02-03) |
What comes next?
The Grizzlies are navigating staffing changes, the upcoming draft, and the start of free agency soon thereafter. Changes are certain to come in some form, especially with the team picking No. 3 overall in the draft, a selection that will give Memphis a chance to add a potentially team-altering talent. The only way to go is up for the Grizzlies after they suffered through a 2025-26 season in which they went 25-57 and missed the playoffs. Part of their struggles came due to injury troubles, with star guard Ja Morant limited to just 20 games all season long and not appearing in a game after January.
If Memphis' injury woes were to improve moving forward, that would provide the franchise with an element of stability that can go a long way toward building a contender. Curtis — and any other additions the Grizzlies make to their sports medicine and training staff — will certainly do everything in their power to ensure that the team's players are healthy and available for as many games as possible in the coming years. The Grizzlies' new hire will look to make a strong impact as he rejoins the franchise. Memphis knows as well as any team in the NBA that health goes a long way toward success. With such an impressive resume, Curtis will be a valuable addition to the Grizzlies' staff. The team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, and Curtis' expertise will be crucial in helping them achieve their goals. The Grizzlies' fans are eager to see the team succeed, and with Curtis on board, they may finally have the stability they need to make a deep playoff run. The future looks bright for the Memphis Grizzlies, and with Curtis leading the charge, they may be able to overcome their injury woes and become a contender in the NBA.