 In 2007, the head coach and founder of Azumazeki stable, former "sekiwake" Takamiyama, indicated that Ushiomaru would succeed him when he reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty-five in June 2009.This came as a surprise to some, who had assumed that his more high profile and higher ranked stablemate Takamisakari would take over.After completing his last match in the May, 2009 tournament, Ushiomaru did announce his retirement from active sumo to take over head coach duties from the retiring Kuhaulua.