The 2010–11 season saw the league expand to 16 teams and the playoff system was expanded to include the top six teams of each conference. However, the season was ultimately affected by the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which led to three Eastern Conference teams withdrawing from play before the season ended. In the Western Conference, which had expanded to nine teams with the introduction of the Shimane Susanoo Magic and Miyazaki Shining Suns, the HeatDevils were in contention for a playoff spot at the time of the earthquake, their 16–22 record placing them just one game behind sixth-placed Shimane. However, three of the team's four American players (Taj Finger, Rolando Howell and Cyrus Tate) broke their contracts and left the country in the week after the earthquake and the team subsequently fired coach L. J. Hepp for failing to convince the players to remain in Japan. Assistant coach Tony Hanson () took over coaching responsibilities following the departures and the team lost their remaining ten matches, finishing the season seven games behind Shimane.