Did you wait for the end of the LG season?' NC manager Lee Ho-joon was appointed in a surprise move, giving an exceptional three-year treatment of 1.4 billion won (official announcement)

Oct 22, 2024

Lee Ho-joon, NC's new director. Sports Chosun DB

'Hoduji'Lee Ho-joon returns to NC Dinos as a coach.

The NC club officially announced on the 22nd that it has selected Lee Ho-joon, the current head coach of the LG Twins, as the fourth coach. The terms of the contract are three years, which is somewhat unconventional for a new coach. Usually, new coaches without managerial experience usually have a two-year contract, and NC guaranteed a three-year contract period to new coach Lee Ho-joon, who was the team's flagship player and had a long career as a coach. The conditions are a total annual salary of 950 million won (300 million won in the first and second years and 350 million won in the third year) and an option of 150 million won.

Coach Lee Ho-joon, born in 1976, joined the Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) as a high school graduate in 1994 after graduating from Gwangju Jeil High School. He then moved to the SK Wyverns in 2000, and moved to the NC Dinos, then a new team, ahead of the 2013 season.

In NC, a new team with many young and inexperienced players, Lee Ho-joon was the team's leader and a veteran. He also retired at NC. Lee Ho-joon, who announced his retirement from active duty after the 2017 season, recorded a batting average of 282 with 1,803 hits, 337 homers, 1265 RBIs in 2,053 games in his professional career.

After retiring from active duty, he began his coaching career and took the leadership path. Coach Lee Ho-joon, who was the batting coach at NC, his last team, later moved to LG ahead of the 2022 season. He served as LG's first-team batting coach and co-opted LG's combined championship last year.

Ahead of this season, he was promoted to a Quality Control (QC) coach and then changed his position to a head coach during the season, steadily walking the path of a leader.

이호준 감독. Sports Chosun DB

Coach Lee Ho-joon has been evaluated as the next coach due to his natural leadership and friendly personality since he was a player. There were many baseball players who saw the manager's debut as a matter of time. Last year, he was mentioned as a strong candidate for the next coach of other teams, but he couldn't reach him, and eventually was finally selected as NC's new coach, who was the last team in his active career and has been together since its inception.

Meanwhile, NC has been selecting a new coach candidate after canceling the contract with coach Kang In-kwon on September 20. It was judged that Lee Ho-joon was the best manager, and Lee's team, LG, officially announced the appointment of a new coach as they completed all 2024 season schedules due to the elimination of the playoffs.

The NC club valued knowing the KBO League clubs and players well through various experiences, including coach Lee Ho-joon's open communication skills, proven leadership and senior coaching experience. In addition, they are well aware of rapidly changing baseball trends through the data, and based on this, they judged them to be the right person to create a long-term strong team.

이호준. Sports Chosun DB

Lim Seon-nam, NC's general manager, said, `We reviewed various candidates with the club's direction. Coach Lee Ho-joon had the highest understanding of the club based on his experience as a key player of the club and his various coaching experiences since then. He judged that he was the right person to use potential players in the right place to grow young players and play baseball where the team could continue to win. I got the highest score in terms of understanding the long-term operations and club philosophy."

Director Lee Ho-joon said, `First of all, I am happy to meet the passionate fans of Changwon once again. NC has always been a special team to me, including NC's first KBO League game in 2013 and NC's first retirement ceremony. I feel honored to be with you as a coach in a special team. Our team is young and has a lot of potential. I think the growth of young players is the basis for our team to become a strong team. I think it is my role to make this possibility a reality with the club. Through rapid and aggressive baseball, I will be able to show baseball fans in Changwon that beat their hearts. Let's trust everyone who tells us and go on a journey ahead. I will do my best to help NC become a prestigious club.

NC will soon announce the coaching staff of the N team (NC's first team) that will work with coach Lee. Lee will join the team from Oct. 24 and lead the CAMP 1 (NC Finishing Training), which starts in Changwon.

youll@sportschosun.com