[On-site Interview] "I want to be like Coach when I go pro" — A 'Commander of Total Victory' Moved to Tears by a Single Word from Her Player... "I Feel Proud and Touched; I Want to Become a Mentor Like an Older Sister"

*This content was translated by AI.

"It truly made me feel proud. On one hand, it was moving, and on the other, it was fulfilling."

For Coach Baek Ji-eun of Dankook University, who completed her team's first regular season championship in its history with a "10-game winning streak," the most heartwarming moment of this season was not just victory. A single word from a player about to enter the professional league left a deep impression on her heart.

Dankook University, led by Coach Baek, defeated Gwangju Women's University in the final game of the 2026 KUSF College Basketball U-League women's regular season, held at the Cheonan Dankook University Main Stadium on the 29th of last month, to complete a perfect 10-game winning streak in the regular season.

This is the first time Dankook University has topped the regular season since its founding. Even after securing the championship early, the team did not lose a single game until the end, achieving a "perfect championship."

In an interview with StarNews, Coach Baek said, "It feels like a truly meaningful season because we were able to finish the regular season undefeated," adding, "Dankook University had never won the regular season title since its founding, so it is especially fresh and memorable that we achieved it for the first time this year."

However, there was an achievement as significant to Coach Baek as the undefeated regular season championship. That was the growth of her players.

In particular, team captain Kim Seong-eon successfully entered the professional league by being selected in the second round, second pick, by Cheongju KB Stars in the 2026~2027 WKBL Rookie Draft held in August last year.

Kim Seong-eon, who had chosen to attend university rather than go pro upon graduating from high school, grew over four years at Dankook University and led the team as captain to its first regular season championship and undefeated title in its final season.

Facing the professional stage, Kim Seong-eon also conveyed special gratitude to Coach Baek. She expressed her desire to become a player who endures on the professional stage for a long time, just like Coach Baek.

Recalling her player's words, Coach Baek smiled and said, "It truly made me feel proud."

She stated, "The fact that Seong-eon said that was moving in one way and extremely fulfilling in another," adding, "It made me think I need to work harder and gave me the mindset that I must teach my players better."

She further added, "I feel that Seong-eon's words gave me a slightly greater sense of responsibility."

Coach Baek also has a clear vision of what kind of coach she wants to be. She hopes to be the strictest coach on the court, but a mentor whom players can approach comfortably once they step off it.

Coach Baek said, "I want to become a coach like an older sister," explaining, "Of course, I would like to be a scary coach on the court. But outside the court, I try to approach my players as someone more like an older sister."

What Coach Baek considers most important when coaching players is not just simple technical skill. She emphasized the importance of changing their attitude toward basketball, training habits, and even the mindset needed to survive on the professional stage.

Coach Baek explained, "Players' attitude toward basketball, their attitude toward their coach, and their determination in training are truly important," adding, "Ultimately, I believe that changing their mentality and habits is the biggest factor."

In particular, it is a key goal for her that Dankook University players survive not only on the college stage but also in the professional league.

Coach Baek emphasized, "When you go pro, the training volume becomes much higher than in college. In university, you must train within set hours, so there are limits to how much you can do," adding, "That is why it is important to change players' habits starting now."

Coach Baek herself was not a player who walked a smooth path to success in the professional league.

She joined Guri Kumho Life as a declared player but received a release notice after playing three seasons in 2010. However, she did not give up on basketball. She enrolled at Yongin University and continued to hold a basketball, returning to the professional stage by being selected by Hana Bank (Hana OneQ) in the 2014 WKBL Rookie Draft, three years later.

She went on to play a total of 11 seasons in the WKBL. Although her height of 177 cm was not large for a big man, she did not avoid physical battles and fiercely competed with foreign players in the paint. She survived in the professional league for a long time through dedicated play that involved throwing her body and taking one more step, rather than flashy moves.

She was a mentor from whom center Kim Seong-eon could learn many things up close like no one else.

Kim Seong-eon also stated, "I want to become a player who plays on the professional stage for a long time, just like Coach Baek Ji-eun."

Coach Baek has the same mindset as. Therefore, she gives her players somewhat harsh instructions. Coach Baek said, "When you go pro, there is no such thing as morning or evening. After eating, you have to come out and do individual training, and you must do whatever you are told."

This is because the professional stage is already filled with skilled players. Therefore, Coach Baek emphasizes that players should become those who handle dirty work from the start, rather than dreaming of being a flashy "lead" right away.

She said, "There are really many good players in the pros. It is not easy to become a shining lead from the beginning," adding, "Our players can start as extras. Becoming a supporting role from an extra, and then becoming a lead later, is not too late at all."

She further added, "That is why I emphasize dirty work more to my players. I always tell them that defense must be fundamental."

Although they posted a perfect record of 10 wins in the regular season, Coach Baek is most wary of her players becoming satisfied too soon.

Coach Baek said, "I heard a lot of comments from people around me this year saying, 'Don't you guys win no matter what?'" adding, "But if they get satisfied here, the players will not develop further."

She continued, "So we keep setting higher goals. It is good that players talk about and enjoy their undefeated championship, but each of them has a goal they want to achieve," emphasizing, "Thinking about those goals, we are not at a stage where we can be satisfied yet."

Coach Baek said that her coaching career is also being built together with her players.

She expressed gratitude, saying, "In the past, my teachers would jokingly say, 'Good coaches are made by good players,'" adding, "Because I met good players, I was able to build my career, and I think I am gradually becoming a good coach."

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*This content was translated by AI.