Korean Led: Former Kwangdong Freecs Head Coach Cain to join 100 Thieves as new Head Coach

According to current independent reporter Brieuc “LEC Wooloo” Seeger, 100 Thieves are set to make further roster moves in the LCS off-season. Reports indicate that current head coach, Eriend “Nukeduck” Våtevik Holm is on the way out in the off-season. Coming in for 100 Thieves, however, is the former Kwangdong Freecs Head Coach Jang “Cain” Nu-ri.

Forged from Battle

“Cain” comes into 100 Thieves as an experienced veteran of the scene. He previously played professional League of Legends for the NaJin Sword organization. Beginning in May 2012, “Cain” specialized as a support player for the team, playing until November 2015. He then retired as a player and joined CJ Entus as their new coach. Since then, he has coached on some of the most notable organization in both South Korea and North America, including Cloud9, Team Liquid and Afreeca Freecs. His longest tenure was as the coach for Team Liquid, staying from March 2017 to November 2020 with the organization.

Accomplished Coach

With NaJin Sword, “Cain” made top 8 at Worlds twice, once in 2012, and again in 2013. In 2013, they went 2-3 against a rising SKT and finished 3rd-4th, losing to the eventual Worlds champion in close fashion. As a coach, he finished 1st for the LCS Spring Playoffs in 2018, a repeat 1st placing in the 2018 LCS Summer Playoffs, 2019 LCS Spring Playoffs, 2019 LCS Summer Playoffs. In 2020, Team Liquid once more finished the regular Summer Split in first place and took 3rd at the 2020 Summer Playoffs. Going back to South Korea, he peaked with a 4th place placement in the LCK 2022 Spring Playoffs.

100 Thieves Rebuilding

Despite one of the most hyped roster rebuilds for the 2023 LCS Spring Split, including both Yiliang Peter “Doublelift” Peng and Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg reuniting on the same roster for the first time since their days on TSM together, 100 Thieves ended the regular Spring Split in 3rd place and 5th-6th in the Spring Playoffs. A fairly disappointing run in the end for a squad that, on paper, looked capable of accomplishing far more.

In the wake of that, “Bjergsen” announced his departure from both the roster, as well as his retirement from professional play (for the second time). As recently reported, rising mid-lane star “Quid” will be taking over the void left by “Bjergsen”. 100 Thieves are looking to return to the peak of the LCS, and they are slowly assembling the talent for it.

Credit: MSI 2018 // LoL Esports