The Toyama Grouses' predictable blueprint — one that's failed repeatedly — contained the following decision on Wednesday:

Coach Kazuaki Shimoji was fired after 18 regular-season games (13 losses) in charge, the end of another lousy Grouses season.

And now the Grouses, who have never had a winning record in five bj-league seasons, will begin searching for their fourth head coach in less than three years. Charles Johnson guided the team in 2009-10. Kotei Eto was 8-18 before he was shown the door last season, and Shimoji never had ample time to put his stamp on the team.