A major shift in the bj-league's coaching ranks appears imminent.

Sources told The Japan Times on Thursday that two-time title-winning coach Dai Oketani of the Ryukyu Golden Kings will not return to the club next season. Instead, the sources said, Oketani wants to join the Kyoto Hannaryz as an assistant under bench boss Honoo Hamaguchi.

Oketani, 35, hails from Kyoto. He has been a head coach since the league's inaugural season in 2005-06, stepping into the lead position with the Oita HeatDevils when the team's original coach, ex-NBA big man Jawann Oldham, was fired after a 4-12 start. He coached Oita until 2008.