Pro-volleyball player promoted directly to head coach

Even before the post-season games of South Korea`s 2014-1015 club volleyball competition V-League ended, a rumor was spreading around courts that Shin Young-chul, the head coach of the Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm, would sign a contract with the Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers. Shin`s contract with KEPCO was nearing its expiry, while Hyundai head coach Kim Ho-chul offered to resign. Rumors also had it that Shin was angry for KEPCO`s failure to provide promised support for his team.

The rumors have proven to be false, however. Hyundai appointed setter Choi Tae-woong, 39, as the team`s new head coach. With the appointment, Choi, the only player in the Korean pro-volleyball league with a doctor`s degree, has become the first player to take the helms of a team without going through coaching experiences.

"It is common for players to admire coaches but it is rare for them to admire their peers. Choi has always been admired by other players," said a Hyundai official said. "Hyundai has decided that Choi was the best one for the job of building the team from long-term perspectives without being too obsessed about winning the season championship."

"I was contacted by the team before Game 3 of the championship matches on Sunday. I came to have confidence in myself after watching OK Savings Bank Rush&Cash coach Kim Se-jin winning a championship. I will take time to rearrange the coaching staff," Choi told reporters.

Shin, who also has a Ph.D. degree, has extended his contract with KEPCO. A KEPCO official said that Shin`s rumored departure was groundless, adding it was "unimaginable" for the club to let him go.

kini@donga.com