Bob Hill is eager to begin the next chapter in his long, accomplished career as a basketball coach. And he's smart enough to know that some of his biggest adjustments will take place off the court.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season as the Tokyo Apache's new sideline supervisor, Hill summed up his thoughts this way: "The greatest challenge will be to accept and embrace the culture of Japan."

As the first former NBA head coach to accept the same position with a bj-league team, Hill will be an intriguing individual to observe throughout the course of the 2010-11 season, which tips off in mid-October.