[Official Announcement] Official Head Coach Confirmed 7 Months After Dismissing the Champion-Season Coach! Acting Coach Kim Young-rae Promoted to Korea Expressway Corporation Head Coach... Runner-Up Finish in Cup Tournament Recognized

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Korea Expressway Corporation, which made the unprecedented decision to part ways with its champion-season coach on the eve of the championship finals, has established a formal head coach system after approximately seven months. Kim Young-rae (45), who took over as acting coach following former head coach Kim Jong-min (52), has been promoted to full head coach.

Korea Expressway Corporation HiPass, a women's professional volleyball team, officially announced on the 29th, "In line with the opening of the 2026~2027 V-League season, we have confirmed the promotion of acting coach Kim Young-rae to full head coach."

The reason cited was, "As a setter-turned-coach, he demonstrated the ability to read the flow of the entire game and manage the on-court roster with meticulous and precise tactical operation. In particular, in his first official stage, the '2026 Yeosu·NH Nonghyup Professional Volleyball Tournament' held last month, he led the team on an unstoppable three-game winning streak to advance to the finals. The club highly evaluated his leadership in quickly organizing and strengthening the team during the off-season and confirmed his appointment as full head coach."

With this decision, Korea Expressway Corporation has concluded its acting coach system, which had continued since April, after approximately seven months. The process of replacing the head coach at Korea Expressway Corporation was not smooth.

Last season, under the command of head coach Kim Jong-min, Korea Expressway Corporation secured first place in the regular league. However, the club decided not to renew the contract with former head coach Kim, whose contract had expired, ahead of the championship finals.

Former head coach Kim Jong-min was a leader who guided Korea Expressway Corporation for approximately 10 years since 2016 and achieved two championship finals titles. Controversy arose when the coach who led the team to a regular league title was unable to command the championship finals, the season's final stage. At the time, Kim Young-rae, then the head coach, suddenly took over as acting head coach. However, they suffered three consecutive losses in the championship finals against GS Caltex, failing to achieve an overall title despite winning the regular league.

Subsequently, the club pursued an unusual acting head coach contract with Acting Head Coach Kim Young-rae for the 2026~2027 season. Issues regarding the selection of management personnel, including the club owner, were also a background factor in the delay of appointing a full head coach. During his active career, Acting Head Coach Kim Young-rae played as a setter for Korean Air, LIG General Insurance, and KEPCO. After retirement, he built his coaching career in women's high school volleyball and on the professional stage.

He served as a coach for Korea Expressway Corporation from 2016 to 2020, then moved through Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Woori Card before returning as head coach of Korea Expressway Corporation in 2025. He assisted former head coach Kim Jong-min in securing first place in the regular league, and this time he will lead the team as the full head coach. The first official test for the Kim Young-rae coaching system was the 2026 Yeosu·NH Nonghyup Professional Volleyball Tournament held last month.

Korea Expressway Corporation advanced to the semifinals with a three-game winning streak in the group stage and reached the final stage. Although they failed to win the championship, the club highly evaluated their ability to operate the team stably despite the short preparation period. There were also changes in the roster. After parting ways with Asian quota player Tanacha last season, Korea Expressway Corporation signed Uchishito Mami, an outside hitter from the Japanese national team. As a player strong in receiving and defense, she is expected to be a resource that will reduce the burden on the attackers.

They re-signed internal free agent (FA) Moon Jung-won, and in the process of veteran middle blocker Bae Yu-na's transfer, they acquired setter Lee Su-yeon. They also proceeded with strengthening their power through the rookie draft. For Korea Expressway Corporation, which secured first place in the regular league last season but failed to lift the final championship trophy, the goal for the new season is to reclaim the top spot.

Head Coach Kim Young-rae stated, "I sincerely thank the club for trusting me and giving me this opportunity, as well as the citizens of Gimcheon and fans who have sent us unwavering support." He added, "We will do our best to secure the top spot in the V-League this season by maintaining balance across the entire team and leveraging our strengthened power."

Korea Expressway Corporation will play GS Caltex in the opening match of the 2026~2027 V-League women's division at 4 p.m. on the 31st. The rematch against the opponent they lost to in last season's championship finals will be the first game under the full head coach system of Kim Young-rae.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original