IT was a case of back to the future for the Dandenong Rangers after last Friday announcing the return of Mark Wright as next season's WNBL coach.

Wright, who was a dual WNBL coach of the year with the Rangers, returns after six years out of the game, and in a coup, the club has appointed two-time coach of the year Cheryl Chambers, from the Bulleen Boomers, as his assistant.

Wright said while the Rangers were going through a rebuilding phase, it wouldn't take long for them to become a force again.

"It was difficult to watch the heady days when Gary [Fox] coached the Rangers to [back-to-back] championships, and Dandenong was on top of the ladder, for them to slowly, slowly, inch down, and we plan to turn that around as quickly as possible, I can guarantee that.

"The team will toughen up, and will be a tough, hard-fighting, gritty group. You can't guarantee every win but you will be proud of the team no matter what the outcome, the wins will come and Dandenong will be a force again."

Chambers, who returns after a year out of the game, said she still had the passion and the drive to coach.

"I still had a little bubble in my stomach at the prospect of coaching again, and I can't wait to get out there and compete.

"While we are not exactly chalk and cheese, our coaching styles come from another angle.

"I've worked with Mark with the [under 21] Australian Sapphires before and he's so passionate, and certainly gets the best out of people."

During his four years with the Rangers, Wright was named coach of the year in 2000 and 2001 before moving to the NBL with the Victoria Giants.

Wright will replace Dean Kinsman, who was promoted from assistant coach mid-season when Dale Waters resigned, but decided not to seek reappointment.

Kinsman coached the Rangers against Bulleen on Saturday, and will see the season out in the final game against Adelaide.