Japan's Kenzo Maeda has been named head coach of Taiwan's women's national
basketball team.

Maeda, 43, is currently head coach of B.League side the Akita Northern
Happinets and will succeed American Michael Olson.

He will lead the team at the William Jones Cup here in Taiwan this summer and
at the Asian Games in Japan in September.

"I will emphasize team defense, tactical flexibility and timely rotations,
while focusing on the long-term development of young players as we work
together to build a team culture," Maeda said in a statement.

He has also served multiple stints on the coaching staff of Japan's men's
national team.

The Happinets went 19-22 in the 2019-20 season and are currently last in the
Eastern Conference with an 8-42 record.

Maeda is currently learning Chinese and reviewing game footage of Taiwanese
players, and he is expected to meet the team in Taiwan in mid-April, the
Chinese Taipei Basketball Association said.

Taiwan finished seventh at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou (held in 2023),
its first finish outside the top four in the last nine editions.