The Japan Skating Federation’s board of directors on Monday decided on American Ryan Shimabukuro as a head coach with the national speedskating team.

Shimabukuro had been a coach with the U.S. national team up until last season. Shimabukuro will principally be in charge of the sprinters until the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. It is the first time the JSF has named a foreigner to help develop its speed skaters.

The native of Hawaii coached the 2006 Olympic champion in the men’s 500 meters, Joey Cheek, and also 2006 and 2010 1,000-meter champ Shani Davis.