Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders have appointed a new head coach.
Heungkuk Life announced on the 10th, "We have appointed Tomoko Yoshihara, a renowned coach from Japan, as the new head coach."
Coach Yoshihara has led the prestigious JT Marvelous club in the Japan V-League from 2015 to 2024, achieving remarkable results over nine seasons with two league championships and three runner-up finishes. In particular, she guided the team to the first division promotion in the 2015-16 season and achieved a perfect regular season record during the 2023-24 season, earning recognition for her leadership. Formerly a middle blocker, Coach Yoshihara also had a long career in the Japan national team, playing in both Japan and Italy's leagues from 1988 to 2006.
Heungkuk Life stated, "This is a crucial moment for the team to establish a new identity and undergo a generational shift following the retirement of player Kim Yeon-koung," adding that "with her rich coaching experience and communication skills, we determined that Coach Yoshihara is the right person to lead the team's leap forward."
Alongside Coach Yoshihara, the chief coach will be Yoshiaki Tanyama, a former setter. Chief coach Tanyama has collaborated closely with Coach Yoshihara at JT Marvelous for a long time, focusing on strengthening the team's tactics and organization. Additionally, the club is actively considering the recruitment of a specialized Japanese trainer for systematic conditioning of the players and injury prevention.
Meanwhile, a club official expressed deep gratitude for the efforts of coach Marcello Abondanza, whose contract ends after the 2024-25 season, stating, "Coach Yoshihara is a leader with extensive experience and proven leadership, and under her new leadership, we will challenge for the championship once again based on strong teamwork and strategic management."
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