Interesting development in the CBA’s new season—the league has already produced its second head-coach dismissal, and it’s happened sooner than many expected.
Just recently, Shenzhen officially announced a major coaching change through an online platform. The team confirmed that Michael Kelly has been removed as head coach and will transition into an assistant coach role. Meanwhile, Zheng Yonggang, previously an assistant coach, has been promoted to head coach. With this change, Kelly becomes the second head coach to lose his job this season. At the time of the announcement, Shenzhen’s record stands at 2 wins and 3 losses, placing them 12th in the CBA standings.
The first head coach to be dismissed this season was Nanjing Tongxi’s Besirovic. Just days before the league officially began, he reportedly requested to step away, claiming he had lost control of the players. As a result, Besirovic exited the position, and Wang Shilong took over as Tongxi’s new head coach.
As for Shenzhen, the latest move is hard not to see as another chapter in a familiar pattern. If we’re being honest, many fans are probably thinking the same thing: How many times has Zheng Yonggang already become Shenzhen’s head coach? Three times? Four? Possibly even more.
After Wang Jianjun departed, Zheng once stepped in. Later, Zheng left the role and Qiu Biao became head coach. When Qiu moved on—eventually joining Xinjiang—Zheng returned again. Then Zhou Peng took over, and Zheng stepped aside. Not long after, when Zhou struggled to lead the team, Zheng was back in charge yet again.
What makes this latest switch even more striking is the timing. Shenzhen hired Michael Kelly this summer, but after only five rounds of league play, he’s already out as head coach. And in a twist that almost feels predictable, Zheng Yonggang is once again the man taking over.
It’s difficult not to question what this constant reshuffling achieves. In recent years, Shenzhen’s coaching decisions have often felt like endless tinkering, and it raises a blunt question: Can a team really improve its results with this level of instability?
Shenzhen did provide an official explanation. The club stated that the coaching adjustment is meant to optimize the team’s tactical structure, better match the competitive rhythm of the CBA, and inject fresh momentum toward higher goals for the season.
Still, skepticism is understandable. Zheng Yonggang has had extended time with this program in the past, and many observers would ask: What meaningful transformation did Shenzhen experience under him before? What did he truly change? If he had the ability to elevate Shenzhen into a consistently top-tier team, wouldn’t that breakthrough have already happened?
From this perspective, the conclusion some might draw is simple: Shenzhen doesn’t just change coaches—it keeps cycling through them, often without clear long-term direction.
So what do you think—is this a necessary tactical reset, or just another round of coaching chaos?
