kkOma returns to T1 as head coach for 2024 after four years

The all-time great League of Legends coach, Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun, is set to return to T1, taking on the role of head coach for the 2024 League of Legends season.

Three days following T1’s League of Legends World Championship victory, kkOma, the coach who played a significant role in establishing T1’s history, returns to lead the team for the 2024 campaign. Following the resignation of former head coach Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong, T1 ended up operating without an official head coach for most of the summer split. Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon volunteered to take over as the team’s temporary head coach in place of the dismissed coach. Now, following four years of absence from the organization, kkOma will be returning to T1 to take on the coaching duties once again.

Welcome back, ‘kkOma’.

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— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) November 21, 2023

 

kkOma returns to T1 after four years

Even though kkOma began his career in 2011 with StarTale as a jungler, it was his move from professional player to coach that brought his skills to light. As kkOma’s coach for T1 from 2012 to 2017, he was instrumental in the team’s three World Championship victories in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

After leaving T1, he joined Chinese Vici Gaming at the end of 2019. However, kkOma’s experience and talent proved unsuccessful with the Chinease team. As a result, he returned to Korea and joined DAMWON Gaming, where he won the 2020 Worlds title and placed second in both MSI 2021 and Worlds 2022. His ability as a coach goes beyond the League of Legends squad; in the Asian Games 2022, he guided Team Korea to victory in the League of Legends division.

Now, the superstar coach is set to return to his home team of T1 following the team’s fourth Worlds championship. In addition to welcoming kkOma back, the organization also made adjustments to the coaching staff. Alongside kkOma, Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon, who was the team’s temporary head coach, has assumed the position of coach.

It will be kkOma’s task to either persuade Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong to re-sign with the team or to find suitable replacements with the free agency window starting and the contracts of three starters expiring.

Thankfully, the prodigy who previously assisted kkOma in winning three world championships is still contracted with the team. Even ten years after winning his first World title, Faker is still at the pinnacle of his game and demonstrated a persistent desire to win more trophies. KkOma and Faker’s duo was once untouchable, and it appears like T1 wants to retake the lead in League of Legends in 2024.

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