Kyle Julius has stepped down as Vancouver Bandits head coach to take a head coaching job in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Sunday’s announcement by the team said Julius will stay on as team general manager for the remainder of the 2026 season, while lead assistant Coach Ransford Brempong has been named head coach for the remainder of the 2026 CEBL season.
Julius said coaching the Vancouver Bandits has been one of the greatest experiences of his career.
“I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished on and off the court, but even more proud of the relationships that were built along the way,” Julius said.
“This opportunity to become a head coach in the CBA is one that is very important for my family and my career and, while it is difficult to leave a place that has meant so much to us, I believe it is the right next step.
I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported our journey. I will be cheering for the Bandits from afar and wish the organization nothing but continued success. Vancouver will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Julius.
A two-time Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Coach of the Year (2024, 2025), Julius guided the Bandits to two CEBL Finals appearances in 2020 and 2024 while leading the team to the post season in each of his five seasons at the helm. In 2025, he propelled the Bandits to a .792 winning percentage (19-5), the highest by any CEBL club across a full season.
Sunday’s announcement comes after Julius was handed a three-game suspension by the league last month over an incident with a fan during the June 18 game against Winnipeg Sea Bears, a game that saw Winnipeg win 114-81.