After getting an additional year added to his temporary worker visa, Adjalma Becheli will return as head coach of the USU-Eastern men’s basketball team for the 2016-17 season.

Known as “Coach Vando” throughout the community, Becheli has been pursuing permanent residence in the country with a green card. While that process has not yet been fulfilled, the expiring time on his working visa left the school wondering if he would be able to return for another season.

“Coach Vando has been here on a work visa from Brazil and throughout that process he’s been working on permanent residence in the country with a green card,” said Vice Chancellor Greg Dart on KOAL’s Drive Time Sports. “That process takes a long time, but what we do know is he has been granted another year on that visa.”

Becheli, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, came to Price in 2008 as a member of former coach Chris Craig’s staff. After spending two years under Craig, Becheli accepted the same role with the women’s program before becoming the men’s head coach in 2012.

“We are very happy that we won’t be seeing a coaching change,” said Dart. “We are bringing in pretty much a brand new team and it is going to be a high quality team on and off the floor.” This year’s team will feature two returners from last season, and just one with quality playing time.

Since taking over the program Becheli has accumulated a record of 64-57. Last season the team finished 18-13 and suffered a loss to Snow College in the opening round of the Scenic West Athletic Conference Tournament.

Becheli was the first and still only internationally born head coach in the school’s history.