Carl John Neumann was named as the replacement coach for bj-league expansion team Rizing Fukuoka, the team announced Thursday.
Howie Landa, a distinguished, 75-year old former collegiate coach, New York Knicks assistant coach and WNBA scout and assistant coach, was to guide the team during its first-ever season. But he has stepped down from that post due to his wife's illness in the United States.
Neumann, who was known as Johnny in his playing days, turns 57 in September. He averaged an astounding 40.1 points per game at the University of Mississippi in 1971 as a sophomore.
His pro career can best be described as an odyssey. He played for five ABA teams in five years in the 1970s and then spent three years on two NBA teams' rosters.
In his coaching career, he's worked in Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, Kuwait and Lebanon, as well as the CBA and International Basketball Association. He won five coach of the year accolades during his time in Europe.
Neumann is traveling in Europe and was unavailable for comment on Thursday. He is expected to join the Fukuoka team in early September.