iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Tennessee-based America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) team Memphis Grizzlies have announced the appointment of Sonia Raman, an Indian-American, as their assistant coach.
Raman thus joins the likes of Vin Bhavnani (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Roy Rana (Sacramento Kings) as the only coaches of Indian origin in the National Basketball Association.
She is the 14th female assistant coach in the history of the NBA and the 10th among current coaching staffers in the league.
She is also the seventh female coach to have been hired as an assistant in the league since the beginning of the 2019-20 season.
Raman brings with herself 12 years of experience as the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2008-2020).
Under her guidance, The Engineers won the program’s first two New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships (2018, 2019) and also reached the championship game in 2020.
During her final five seasons, the Engineers compiled a 91-45 record.
“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. “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.”
She began her intercollegiate coaching career at Tufts University from where she had graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations in 1996.
Following a two-year stint with her alma mater, she spent six years as the top assistant coach at Wellesley College before joining MIT.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Sonia to the Memphis Grizzlies,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said. “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.”
