Tommi Tiilikainen

Tommi Tiilikainen (born in 1987) is a Finnish volleyball coach and former volleyball player. Desbite his young age, Tiilikainen is regarded by a number of players, coaches, and commentators as one of the greatest and most successful managers in the Finnish volleyball.^[1] In 2016 Tiilikainen won his third Finnish volleyball league championchips and lead club Tiikerit to third Finnish Cup gold.

In four years coaching 'Tigers of Kokkola' he won three times (2013, 2014, 2016) Finnish volleyball league champion and three times Finnish volleyball Cup.^[2] At the age of 25 Tiilikainen was the youngest coach ever who has been managing Finnish volleyball league team. He was only 25 years old when he lead Tigers to Finnish Champion, which made him to be the youngest coach ever in any Finnish national sports league history who have coached club to champion.^[3]

Tiilikainen started his coaching career in Kuortane sports training center at the age of 23.^[4] There he was assistant coach for Finnish boys national team since 2010. After two years of coaching he made a contract with Kokkolan Tiikerit.^[5] The club had just remained its place in Finnish volleyball league in season 2011-12. In his first season 2012-13 in Kokkola Tiilikainen lead the club to Finnish champion. The second season in Tiikerit brought Tiilikainen and the club silver medal in Finnish league and Finnish Cup won. In his third season in a row in Kokkola Tiilikain lead Tiikerit double champion, Tiikerit won Finnish league and Cup in season 2014-15. Season 2015-16 was bullseye for Tiilikainen and Tiikerit. The club lost only one game in season winning 40 games of 41.^[6] Tiikerit made huge winning streak by winning 35 games in a row. They did not lose a single one game in playoffs in seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16.^[7]

After splendid era in Kokkola and Tiikerit Tiilikainen made contract with SWD Düren. Düren plays in German Bundesliga^[8]

Player career

Tiilikainen was talented volleyball player. His junior career was successful. Tiilikainen played in Finnish boys national team and was elected at the age of 19 to Finnish men's volleyball team. Unfortunately at the same time a back injury interrupted his career. Doctors did not find any kind of conclusions to improve his back and Tommi was forced to end his playing career in 2006.^[9] During high school years Tiilikainen studied and trained in Finnish Volleyball Association training center in Kuortane.

After few years this he tried to climb back to the top level of Finnish volleyball but the back's problems did not give up. Tiilikainen played one season and ended his career finally in season 2010-11.^[10] Tommi had already started coaching in Kuortane training center during his last the season of his career.^[11]

Achievements

Finnish volleyball league champion 2013, 2015, 2016^[12]
Finnish volleyball cup champion 2014, 2015, 2016^[13]
Best coach in Finnish volleyball league 2013^[14]
The youngest coach ever in Finnish sports history who has led a team to Finnish Champion^[15]
The longest winning streak in Finnish volleyball league history, 35 wins in a row in Kokkolan Tiikerit 2015-2016^[16]
All-time record at earned points in Finnish volleyball league during a season 2015-16^[17]
All-time record without losing a single game in playoffs seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16^[18]

Coaching career

2010-12 Finnish boys national team
2012-16 Kokkolan Tiikerit (i.e. 'Tigers of Kokkola')
2016- SW Duren

References

[1] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[2] ttp://www.kokkolantiikerit.fi/uutiset/1748/tommi-tiilikainen-saksaan-valmentamaan

[3] ttp://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1366781760663

[4] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[5] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[6] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001160790.html

[7] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001160790.html

[8] ttp://www.keskipohjanmaa.fi/uusimmat/410852/-/e/f2a3419f

[9] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[10] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[11] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001113342.html

[12] ttp://www.kokkolantiikerit.fi/uutiset/1748/tommi-tiilikainen-saksaan-valmentamaan

[13] ttp://www.kokkolantiikerit.fi/uutiset/1748/tommi-tiilikainen-saksaan-valmentamaan

[14] ttp://www.kokkolantiikerit.fi/uutiset/1748/tommi-tiilikainen-saksaan-valmentamaan

[15] ttp://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1366781760663

[16] ttp://www.mestaruusliiga.fi/uutiset/karkikaksikko-naytti-vahvuutensa.html

[17] ttp://www.mestaruusliiga.fi/uutiset/karkikaksikko-naytti-vahvuutensa.html

[18] ttp://www.iltasanomat.fi/lentopallo/art-2000001160790.html

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