Newly promoted League Championship Series team Origen may be filled with LCS-veteran League of Legends stars, but as a team entering the game’s top league they are now required to have a coach.
On Thursday they found their man in Titus “Ducky” Hafner, who recently served as head coach for ROCCAT.
“After evaluating many options, at this moment and time, we’ve decided that Ducky is the best candidate to fill this role,” team captain Enrique “xPeke” Cedeño Martínez said in an announcement on the team’s website. “Our intention is to begin a trial period under Ducky’s command. We believe this can help us reach our highest potential.”
That may not instill confidence in Origen fans considering Hafner’s ROCCAT put together a disappointing season. After securing the services of Norwegian mid laner Erlend “Nukeduck” Våtevik Holm in the offseason, ROCCAT was a favorite to top the LCS. But the team’s 6-12 record ranked them eighth in the league, forcing them to survive a relegation series. That lead to the team ousting Hafner near the end of March.
From there, Hafner weighed his options and ended up aiding Origen in their Challenger Series playoff series against Copenhagen Wolves Academy, which the team won 3-0, opening the door for a more long-term relationship. The team will work with Hafner leading into the first week of the LCS season, and if they like the results, they’ll keep him on board.
Hafner realizes that in a results-based business like esports, he’s going to have to work hard to shed the stigma surrounding his ROCCAT turn.
“Since Coaches are measured by success and ROCCAT had a very poor season, it’s understandable, that they want to take their time to test my input and abilities and make sure I’m a good fit for the team,” Hafner said.
But even if Origen’s decision doesn’t go in his favor, he believes his career is far from over. “I will remain dedicated to coaching, as it is a field that is very underdeveloped and needs dedicated people to grow.”
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr
