Kazuto Aono has been officially named the Kyoto Hannaryz's new head coach, the bj-league team announced on Saturday.
Since April, Aono has served as the team's acting head coach after David Benoit parted ways with the team.
Under Benoit's leadership, the team went 14-26. With Aono, the former assistant, running the show, the expansion Hannaryz went 3-9 in their final 12 regular-season games.
Aono, 34, played for the Saitama Broncos from 2005-07 during the team's first two seasons in the bj-league. He spent the next two seasons as an assistant coach for Saitama.
"I appreciate that I was given this opportunity," Aono said in a statement.
"We'd like to make a team that can convey the pleasure of the game of basketball to those who love it and give emotion with every single game of ours to our boosters and also those who are involved in our activities."