Former Washington Wizards assistant coach Ryan Richman will take the helm as head coach of Alvark Tokyo in Japan’s B.League Premier. The announcement was made Monday, marking a new chapter for the 47-year-old coach after a recent stint with the SeaHorses Mikawa.
Richman led the SeaHorses Mikawa to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023, helping solidify his reputation as a top-tier coach in Japanese basketball. His success with the franchise included a 2022 playoff series victory over Alvark Tokyo, the team he now joins.
Richman spent three seasons as an assistant with the Wizards from 2015 to 2018. During his time in Washington, the team improved from 26 wins in 2015-16 to 44 in 2017-18, a 69% increase. His work with the Wizards earned him attention across the NBA, as he was pursued by half a dozen teams this offseason for assistant coaching roles.
The B.League Premier is Japan’s top-tier basketball league, featuring 18 teams from across the country. Alvark Tokyo, based in the capital, is one of the most popular and storied franchises in the league. The team has won four national championships in its history and finished the 2023-24 regular season with a 20-20 record.
Richman’s hiring signals a shift in strategy for Alvark Tokyo, which has struggled to maintain consistent playoff success in recent years. The team has not won a championship since 2016 and missed the playoffs in three of the past five seasons.
Ryan Richman’s background in both the NBA and Japanese basketball gives him a unique perspective. He previously coached in the B.League with the Aisin Awara Eagles from 2012 to 2015, where he posted a 58-48 record over three seasons. His return to the league comes with higher expectations and a new challenge.
The B.League Premier 2024-25 season is set to begin in October. Richman will have the summer to build his system and evaluate personnel ahead of the campaign. His first official game as Alvark Tokyo head coach will come on October 5 against the Ryukyu Golden Kings.
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