The team hired Tomoyuki Umeda to replace Suzuki as head coach but fired him in the middle of January after they struggled to a 6 – 18 record and sat in second-last place in the Western Conference . The team hired Shinshu Brave Warriors assistant coach Ryuji Kawai as Umeda 's replacement . The team fared better in the second half of the season , posting 10 – 14 record under Kawai to remain within playoff contention , until consecutive losses to Osaka on April 16 and 17 made it impossible for the team to sneak into eighth spot . In what was to be a fitting end to the team 's Oita era , they were scheduled to play their final two games of the season at Beppu Arena on 23 and 24 April 2016 against the Kanazawa Samuraiz , who hired Suzuki as coach during the off-season . However , due to concerns about the possibility of aftershocks following the earthquakes that hit Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures one week earlier , the league announced on 21 April that the matches would be cancelled on account of the safety of patrons . The HeatDevils finished their final season in the bj league in 10th place in the Western Conference , three games outside of the top eight
earthquakes that hit Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures
2016 Kumamoto earthquakes
Ehime Orange Vikings