Kyle Julius Steps Down – From Langley To China

We often hear about coaching changes in the off-season but not so much during the regular season for many or any teams, well now we are hearing of one such change.

Also from our sources we are hearing that (former) Kyle Julius has officially stepped down as the Head Coach of the Vancouver Bandits to take the Head Coaching position in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Rumor and only a rumor that has crossed our desk is that following an “altercation” in Winnipeg with an unruly fan he was dealt a three game suspension and depending on whom you ask was unjustified, but we weren’t at the game so won’t take sides either way.

He (Julius) has played a huge role since 2020 in the success of the Bandits and remains with the club as GM for the remainder of this season. 

To no surprise the Bandits supported him with the opportunity to lead at the CBA moving on from the top organization in the Canadian Elite Basketball League for both players and coaches.

He was a two-time CEBL Coach of the Year (2024, 2025), who guided the Bandits to two CEBL Finals appearances (2020 and 2024)leading them to the postseason in each of his five seasons. 

The 2025 season saw the Bandits excel to a .792 winning % (19-5) the highest by any CEBL club in a full season’s play.

“I want to thank our tremendous coaches, president Dylan Kular, our ownership group Kevin Dhaliwal, Bryan Slusarchuk, and Milan Mann, the entire Bandits organization, our players, and the incredible fans for everything we have built together over the past seven seasons.

Coaching the Vancouver Bandits has been one of the greatest experiences of my career.

Together, we established a culture built on energy, effort, accountability, and player development. 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.

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.

Julius’ relentless commitment to building a championship culture transformed the Bandits into the CEBL’s premier organization, earning its status as a true destination for world-class talent and top basketball development. The Bandits have advanced players to NBA two-way contracts directly following their time with the club in each of the past three seasons, more than any other CEBL organization. 

“Kyle has become family. He believed in this organization and poured his heart into building something special here. His vision, passion, and commitment to developing players and people have set a standard that will define the Bandits for years to come. Beyond wins, he gave us a foundation built on passion, accountability, and genuine care for every person in our organization. I am grateful for every early morning meeting, every late-night phone call, and every moment we shared chasing this dream together. This isn’t goodbye; we will be cheering louder than anyone when he succeeds in China and beyond in the next chapters of his career,” said team president Dylan Kular.

Off the court, Julius participated in the Bandits’ youth sports development efforts primarily through the Bandits Community Foundation School Tour. 

Since 2023, the free-of-charge initiative saw Julius support training and skill development directly with nearly 200 school teams across British Columbia. 

In addition, through the Bandits Community Foundation, Julius has hosted countless youth skill clinics and coaching seminars with athletes and volunteer coaches across the province.

With Kyle moving on the Bandits have appointed Lead Assistant Coach Ransford Brempong as Head Coach for the remainder of this season who is a former Canadian Senior Men’s National Team member. 

 He (Brempong) has represented Canada at the highest level for eight years who has played professionally for six years in Europe plus a standout NCAA DI player at Western Carolina University as a conference’s all-time leader in blocked shots, a record that still stands today.

“The Vancouver Bandits have high expectations for our roster, and I am excited to lend my decades of experience and skills developed at the collegiate, international, and national team levels to help our players get better and to achieve success this summer,” said Brempong.

Fans will have an opportunity to connect with Julius in August after he returns from training camp in China, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.

We wish him all the best in his new position and congratulate Kyle as he moves on to his new role, which is exception for him and his Family.

Thanks to Justin Sulpico Senior Manager Communications & Content Vancouver Bandits for the info.