Kazuhiro Shoji, a former Niigata Albirex BB player at the start of the 21st century, takes over as the team's new head coach as the franchise prepares for the inaugural B. League season.
The Albirex made the announcement on Thursday.
Shoji, 42, returns to Niigata after a three-month stint as an assistant for the Takamatsu Five Arrows to close out the 2015-16 campaign. His new challenge puts him in charge of a team assigned to play in the B. League's 18-team first division.