TL;DR
- KkOma steps down as Vici Gaming head coach to return to Korea for family reasons
- The legendary coach led SKT to three World Championship finals with two victories
- His tenure marked by multiple LCK titles and Mid-Season Invitational trophies
- Vici Gaming showed improvement under his guidance despite modest standings
- Currently a free agent with no immediate return expected due to personal priorities
In a move that highlights the personal sacrifices esports professionals make, Vici Gaming’s head coach Kim “KkOma” Jeong-gyun has officially resigned from his position. The decision stems from pressing family obligations that require his immediate attention back in Korea.
KkOma will be returning to his homeland to support his family during a significant life transition—he’s expecting to become a father soon. This marks the conclusion of his coaching tenure with the LPL squad, which began last December following an extraordinary seven-year period with SK Telecom T1 that established his legendary status.
Farewell, kkOma!https://t.co/c4inqDbVVL
pic.twitter.com/GzHZbPWqlH— VICI Gaming (@VICI)
September 10, 2020
Vici Gaming issued an official communication expressing complete support for KkOma’s choice. The organization emphasized that this decision resulted from amicable discussions and praised KkOma’s exceptional professional capabilities, which earned deep respect throughout the competitive gaming community.
“While we regret that our partnership cannot continue into future competitive splits, we fully appreciate the significance of family commitments,” Vici stated. “We recognize the expectant father who wants to be present for his child’s development and the devoted husband prioritizing his wife’s wellbeing.”
KkOma helped SKT T1 win three World Championships before Vici Gaming
KkOma’s reputation primarily stems from his transformative seven-year leadership of SK Telecom T1. Throughout this period, he consistently guided his squad to the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends, achieving three appearances in the World Championship finals. The team secured championship victories in both 2015 and 2016, though they fell short against Samsung Galaxy in the 2017 finals. Beyond these international accomplishments, KkOma accumulated numerous domestic championships within the LCK circuit, complemented by two Mid-Season Invitational tournament wins.
This remarkable track record establishes KkOma as the most successful coach in League of Legends history, though all professional journeys eventually reach turning points. In December 2019, KkOma embarked on a significant career transition by relocating to China to assume coaching responsibilities for Vici Gaming within the LPL.
Despite his proven methodology, KkOma couldn’t fully unlock Vici Gaming’s competitive potential during his tenure. The team finished ninth in the spring split and improved to eleventh in summer competition. While these results didn’t meet elite expectations, he nevertheless elevated the organization’s performance compared to their disappointing 2019 campaign. Throughout the previous competitive year, Vici had managed only four total series victories.
KkOma now officially enters the coaching free agent market, though industry observers anticipate his absence from immediate team commitments given the personal circumstances prompting his departure.
Action Checklist
- Review team performance metrics from KkOma’s tenure to identify improvement areas
- Analyze roster composition and strategic adjustments made during coaching period
- Study championship team building strategies from successful esports organizations
- Evaluate coaching candidate profiles with similar strategic philosophies
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » KkOma steps down as head coach at Vici Gaming, and this is why Legendary coach KkOma leaves Vici Gaming for family reasons after historic SKT championship career