'Former Player' Wife's View of 'Coach' Park Cheol-woo: "My Husband Is Not a Genius Type but a Hardworking One... I Always Recall Him Taking Notes" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"He was always someone who took notes."

Shin Hye-in (41), a former basketball player, recalled her husband Park Cheol-woo (41), head coach of OurCard, during his playing days, saying he was often seen writing something down.

Shin Hye-in told StarNews at the recent inauguration ceremony of Park Cheol-woo as the fifth head coach of OurCard's men's professional volleyball team, OurWON, that "I didn't really feel it until the official announcement of the head coach or even when I arrived here this morning." She added, "However, I was surprised and grateful that so many reporters came. In fact, at my husband's retirement ceremony, time had passed since his retirement, so I was calm, but today (16th) I think I was nervous."

The love story between head coach Park Cheol-woo and Shin Hye-in during their playing days was a hot topic in the sports world. This was because Shin Hye-in's father was former coach Shin Chi-yong (71). Coach Shin Chi-yong is known as a legendary figure in Korean volleyball, having led Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance to nine consecutive championships in the industrial league and eight titles in total, including seven consecutive V-League championship finals.

The situation became even more of a hot topic when son-in-law Park Cheol-woo transferred from Hyundai Capital to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance during the 2010-2011 season, spending five seasons together as mentor and student. Thus, beyond the father-in-law and son-in-law relationship, former coach Shin Chi-yong was an eternal teacher and mentor to head coach Park Cheol-woo.

At the inauguration ceremony today, head coach Park Cheol-woo said, "When I became head coach, he sent me a clear message saying, 'Be humble.' He also said 'Congratulations' on the morning of the (inauguration) ceremony, and I believe that short message contained many meanings."

He continued, "I have been living while constantly reflecting on those words. Whenever I feel mentally shaken, I often ask him, and that single short sentence usually helps me sort out my thoughts, so I live with a heart full of gratitude."

Wife Shin Hye-in is also a former basketball player who has stepped onto the professional stage, albeit briefly. She is now a steadfast supporter for her daughters, Park So-yul (13) and Park Si-ha (10), who have followed in their father's footsteps to pursue careers as volleyball players.

Shin Hye-in said, "In fact, until two days before the inauguration ceremony, I was in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, because of my eldest daughter's tournament. No matter how much her father coaches, the daughters cannot miss training, so they were unable to come for most of the last season. We were only able to go together once, during the final home game of the regular season," expressing her regret.

Although she could not always visit the stadium, her heart was always directed toward Jangchung Gymnasium and her husband. At the inauguration ceremony, head coach Park Cheol-woo smiled, saying, "A few days ago, my wife told me, 'You can come home just once a week.' She said it was important to focus on the team and the players to achieve good results."

He then added, "She told me I should spend a lot of time with the players and win a championship within three years. She gave me strength in that way, and I am truly grateful to my wife. I am also grateful that the children could come today and participate with us."

Behind the decision to entrust her husband so boldly, there was also gratitude toward OurCard Volleyball Team, which trusted head coach Park, who had no prior connection to the club. Shin Hye-in recalled, "In fact, we didn't expect my husband to work as a coach at OurCard. But OurCard made the offer, and my husband readily accepted it," looking back to this time last year.

OurCard Volleyball Team not only extended a coaching offer to head coach Park, who had no prior connection, but also boldly entrusted him with the reins during the coaching staff change. For the Park couple, this was a continuous surprise. There was also a significant burden.

Shin Hye-in said, "In fact, even during the interim head coach period, others congratulated us on the opportunity coming so quickly. But we thought that if we were not careful, the coaching opportunity might never come," honestly revealing her feelings at the time.

She continued, "So we thought more deeply and tried to get along well with the players. Fortunately, the players followed well, and the club chairman visited the gymnasium frequently to offer encouragement. I believe the results of the last season were a positive synergy effect of those things."

What kind of person is head coach Park Cheol-woo, as seen by his wife, a former player? Shin Hye-in defined the head coach not as a genius type but as a hardworking one. She explained, "Even during his playing days, I would laugh and say, 'You are not a genius type.' He was someone who took notes and studied things he thought would be helpful from the players' perspective, no matter which coach he met during his playing career."

It is also reported that his willingness to readily accept the offer from OurCard, with whom he had no prior connection, stemmed from his desire to experience coaching styles from other countries. Shin Hye-in said, "My husband never experienced a foreign coach during his playing days. He was always curious, asking his younger teammates in the national team every time how foreign coaches conducted training. He immediately accepted the offer with the mindset of learning a lot from Coach Paes."

She added, "He was someone who thought a lot and worked very hard since his playing days. Since such a good opportunity has come, I hope he studies even more as he has done before and does well together with OurCard," offering her support.

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*This content was translated by AI.