Assistant coach Takaoka will act as acting head coach for the next round of San-en games
The Toyama Grouses announced today that they have mutually agreed to terminate the contract with head coach Hamaguchi En.
Head coach Hamaguchi, who was born in Tokyo, started his coaching career in 1994 with the men’s basketball team of Aichi Gakusen University. After returning to Japan in 2004, he became an assistant coach for Toyota Motor Corporation (currently Alvark Tokyo), and from the following season he served as head coach for six seasons at the Sendai 89ERS. After that, he continued to lead the Kyoto Hannalies, which belonged to the bj league at the time, for 9 seasons, and in the B league, he led them to the championship in the 2017-18 season.
In Toyama, which became the new world in the 2020-21 season, Julian Mabunga and Joshua Smith, who had fought together in Kyoto until then, steered a team called “individual group” and won the championship with 39 wins and 21 losses. Enter the ship as a wild card slot. Although they were eliminated in the quarterfinals, they won one victory against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, the leader of the western division. And this season with the transfer of Mabunga and Naoki Uto, who were the main players, the results have been tough so far with 6 wins and 23 losses (7th place in the central district).
Hamaguchi head coach has announced the following comments through the club. “So far this season, not only the players and team staff, but also the front staff and everyone involved in the team have worked hard on the game and really worked hard to win, but I couldn’t get results because of my lack of ability. I couldn’t do it, and it’s been a disappointing season.This is my responsibility and I’m full of regrets.More than anything, I feel like I betrayed the expectations of the boosters who always cheered me on. We are also keenly aware of our responsibility for the outcome.In addition, we would like to express our gratitude and apology to all the media who have continued to cover the Grouses with high expectations, and to all the sponsors who have supported and supported us. I would like to express my sincere apologies.Although the venue will change, my love for basketball will always be with you.From now on, I will use my experience in Toyama as fuel to move on to the next stage.Toyama Grouses will continue to do so. Thank you very much.”
It has been announced that assistant coach Daisuke Takaoka will take charge of the away game against Sanen Neophoenix on the 18th as acting head coach.
