The Matsushita Electric Panasonic Super Kangaroos of the Japan Basketball League announced Tuesday they have hired Paul Westhead as their new head coach.

Westhead is expected to join the team later this month.

The 2001-2002 JBL Super League season begins in early October.

The 62-year-old Westhead has formerly coached the Los Angeles Lakers (1979-82), Chicago Bulls (1982-83), Denver Nuggets (1990-92) and Golden State Warriors (1998-2000) and holds an overall record of 159-164 in the NBA.

Westhead coached the Lakers to the NBA championship during the 1979-80 season. Westhead has also been the head coach at La Salle, Loyola-Marymount and George Mason.