Heart on his coaching goals: 'I want to be... a coach that the players look at and feel inspired'
Lee "Heart" Gwanhyung has joined LGD Gaming as coach after a difficult 2015 on Unlimited Potential. After UP were relegated, Heart struggled to find a new team and ultimately decided to become a coach. He seemed like a logical fit for LGD Gaming who had struggled to find a permanent coach in 2015.
theScore eSports spoke with Heart about closing out his career and his expectations transitioning into a coaching role for LGD Gaming.
You played League of Legends and improved for years beyond an age at which many retire. What do you think allowed you to maintain commitment to the game for so long?
Over my career as a pro gamer, I realized that I am someone who is very greedy and I think that I am someone who overestimates himself. The thought that I can achieve anything if I try hard enough is what I think allowed me to maintain my commitment to the game.
After transitioning to support, you spent a lot of time playing for the same organization as Mata at the same time. Do you think it affected your mentality or motivation to be in a position where you would be compared to Mata?
I was compared to him a lot in Samsung. At the time it did affect my mentality but after evaluating our play styles as different and then practicing in my own way, it stopped affecting me as much.
Since your time on GSG, teams you've been on teams known for good adaptation or creative strategy. Do you consider yourself a strong strategic thinker?
I try hard to look like someone that is. I have never really actually considered myself as an incredible strategist though.
Looking back on your career, what game do you remember most vividly and why?
It was the summer of 2014. The loss to KTA in the finals. I remember it so vividly. No one on the team actually thought that we could lose so I think the shock of losing was even bigger.
Which of your attributes do you think will be most useful as a coach for LGD?
LGD has been and will be for the next year a very strong team. However, even the strongest teams have weaknesses. Even before I became LGD’s coach I spoke with the players on the team and understand their their weaknesses and also know how to fix them so I think that those attributes will help this team a lot.
Other Korean coaches in China have found the experience of coaching an LPL team very different from coaching in Korea. What's one challenge you foresee, and how do you expect to address it?
I know it will be difficult to control the players and that will be the challenge. It is my first time coaching but I’ve been in a coaching type role before and so I think that I will overcome it.
Though you weren't a coach, I've heard you still had an important leadership role on UP. The players on LGD are much more experienced than those of UP. How do you think you'll have to adapt to working with more experienced players?
In the end I think all the players are the same. They don’t have more experience than me. I think I will need to communicate with the players a lot.
Despite high expectations, LGD didn't perform well at Worlds. What do you think is the most important thing for the team to focus on to improve?
I think the results were due to the players' confidence turning into an ego. I think that players should always be on their toes.
Is there a coach you've had during your time as a player who you look up to? Can you describe some of his approach that made an impression? If not, can you talk about the type of coach you would like to be?
Coach Homme and Coach kkoma are people I respected a lot. I respect the amount of self confidence they have. I want to be a coach that always tries hard. A coach that the players look at and feel inspired.
We haven't seen as many hair style changes from you this year. Should we expect to see more color and flair from Heart in 2016?
I have no current plans for my hair. Probably just plain black...
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity. Translation courtesy of Paul Park.
Nic Doucet is a News Editor for theScore eSports. You can follow him on Twitter.
Home Page http://ouo.io/scAWed
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