Heungkuk Life Insurance’s New Coach Tomoko Yoshihara Vows ‘New Challenge’
Heungkuk Life Insurance’s new head coach, Tomoko Yoshihara, expressed his determination to lead the team to continued success despite the significant challenge posed by the retirement of volleyball empress Kim Yeon-koung. Speaking at the 2024-25 professional volleyball V-League unified victory meeting held at Glad Yeouido in Seoul on June 16th, Yoshihara showed a serious demeanor as he celebrated the team’s recent championship win.
Yoshihara acknowledged the pressure of succeeding Marcello Avonza as coach of the defending champions, stating, “I feel pressure. It’s the defending champion. I’ll try to keep my seat.” He emphasized his commitment to a ‘new challenge,’ recognizing the significant changes the team was undergoing.
The retirement of Kim Yeon-koung presents a major challenge for Heungkuk Life Insurance. Yoshihara noted, “A great player has left. Now we need to fill the void.” He expressed his intention to showcase “dynamic volleyball with combinations and organizational skills.” The coach highlighted the importance of the players’ preparation, stating, “The players are preparing a lot. I’m trying to use my brain. I wonder what this process will look like after the opening of the season.”
Yoshihara stressed that the team’s focus should be on building a strong team rather than just achieving results. “I think it’s more important what team we make, rather than what results we make,” he said. “The winning experience cannot be changed for anything. The players who played last season are still on the team. You have to make a habit of continuing to win. It is important to have a spirit of challenge,” he emphasized.
Players from Heungkuk Life Insurance also shared their expectations for Yoshihara’s coaching style. Middle blocker Kim Soo-ji, who attended the celebration, mentioned that she had heard about Yoshihara’s coaching methods from other players. “There is a one-day rule. Training has a basic framework. I think we can show better volleyball if we learn more basic skills,” she said.
Setter Lee Go-eun noted that Yoshihara’s coaching style focuses on fast-paced and combination play. “The volleyball that the coach pursues is fast, and combination play is important. I think I need to keep up. Rather than feeling pressured, I will fill the gaps with training with the players,” she stated.
Heungkuk Life Insurance achieved a significant victory in the 2024-25 V-League, finishing first in the regular league and claiming the championship title. The team’s success was followed by the departure of coach Marcello Avonza and the retirement of Kim Yeon-koung. Yoshihara, who was appointed as the new coach in April, brings with him a wealth of experience from his time as a player for the Japanese national team and his successful stint with JT Marbles in the Japanese V-League.
As the team looks to the future under Yoshihara’s leadership, the challenge ahead is clear. With the core players from the previous season remaining, the team aims to build on their winning experience and continue their success in the upcoming season.
