The Ryukyu Golden Kings, one of the bj-league's two expansion teams for the 2007-08 season, named Hernando Planells Jr. as its first head coach, the Okinawa-based club announced Friday. The 30-year-old Planells, whose father is Spanish and has lived in Japan, was at the helm of the Wyoming Golden Eagles of the All-American Professional Basketball League in 2005 and the Hollywood Fame of the American Basketball Association last season. The Los Angeles native's extensive coaching background also includes stints on UNLV's staff and stops at Los Angeles and Monrovia high schools in California and Immaculate Heart High School in Tucson, Ariz. He has also been working for Marty Blake's Court Report staff. Blake is the NBA's director of scouting. Tatsuro Kimura, general manager of the Golden Kings, said in a statement that the club selected Planells, whose mentor is ex-NBA coach Don Casey, from more than 10 candidates because his coaching style suits the team, which wants to pursue a fast, high-scoring and entertaining game. (The Japan Times)
