KB Insurance Stars appoint former national team coach Isanaye Ramirez
In short
KB손해보험 스타즈 announced on Oct 5 that it has appointed Isanaye Ramirez, until recently head coach of South Korea's men's national volleyball team, as its new head coach. The club said Ramirez's national team term ended on Oct 4 and that he signed a formal contract with the team, ending its acting-coach arrangement. Ramirez attended the club's 2026-2027 season launch ceremony in Pyeongtaek the same day and greeted fans.
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KB손해보험 스타즈 announced on Oct 5 that it has appointed Isanaye Ramirez, until recently head coach of the South Korean men's national volleyball team, as its new head coach. Newsis carried the appointment first, Chosun Ilbo followed with the club's official announcement, and Yonhap reported the move later the same afternoon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the club, Ramirez's national team term ended on Oct 4 and he then signed a formal contract with KB손해보험. Chosun Ilbo reported that the club said it had completed the contract after his national team term expired. Ramirez said through the club that he was honoured to take the job: “비시즌 동안 선수들과 코치진이 준비를 잘해준 만큼 집중력을 발휘해 좋은 경기를 선보이겠다” — that he would concentrate and show good matches given the work the players and coaching staff had done during the offseason. [ 2 , 4 ]
A club official gave the club's reasoning for the hire, saying it highly rated Ramirez's communication skills and leadership in developing the national team. Chosun Ilbo reported that the appointment ends the club's acting-coach system, and that the club valued his understanding of domestic players and his tactical operation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Yonhap reported that Ramirez attended the club's 2026-2027 season launch ceremony at the Namu Culture and Arts Center in Pyeongtaek on Oct 5, where he greeted fans for the first time. It also reported that the appointment had been prearranged, and that while Ramirez was leading the national team, acting coach Ha Hyun-yong and coach Kakaroto directed the club's preparations for the new season. [ 2 , 4 ]
On the national team, Yonhap reported that Ramirez led the side to third place at this year's Asian Championship, drawing positive assessment, and that at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games the team failed to win a medal but pushed eventual champion Iran to a full set in the quarterfinals, showing a high level of play. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The appointment moves a coach who led the national team through this year's Asian Championship and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games into the domestic V-League, and the club says it ends the acting-coach arrangement under which the team prepared for the new season. The documents give no indication of impact beyond Korean men's volleyball.
Key facts
- KB손해보험 스타즈 officially announced on Oct 5 the appointment of Isanaye Ramirez, former head coach of the South Korean men's national volleyball team, as its new head coach. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The club said Ramirez's national team term ended on Oct 4 and that he then completed a formal contract with KB손해보험. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ramirez attended the club's 2026-2027 season launch ceremony at the Namu Culture and Arts Center in Pyeongtaek on Oct 5 and greeted fans. [ 2 , 4 ]
- A club official said it highly rated Ramirez's communication skills and leadership, which it said had developed the national team. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported that the appointment ends the club's acting-coach system. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reported that Ramirez led the national team to third place at this year's Asian Championship, and that at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games the team missed a medal but took eventual champion Iran to a full set in the quarterfinals. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reported that the appointment had been prearranged and that acting coach Ha Hyun-yong and coach Kakaroto led the club's preseason preparations while Ramirez was with the national team. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- KB손해보험 스타즈 appointed Isanaye Ramirez, former head coach of the men's national volleyball team, as its new head coach, announced on Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ramirez's national team term ended on Oct 4, after which he signed a formal contract with the club. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ramirez took part in the club's 2026-2027 season launch ceremony in Pyeongtaek on Oct 5 and greeted fans. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The club cited Ramirez's communication skills, leadership and understanding of domestic players as reasons for the appointment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The length and financial terms of Ramirez's contract with KB손해보험. No document states the contract duration, salary or other terms.
- What roles acting coach Ha Hyun-yong and coach Kakaroto will have under Ramirez. Yonhap mentions that they directed the club's new season preparations while Ramirez was with the national team, but no document says how the staff will be arranged now.
- The exact time and programme of the Oct 5 season launch ceremony in Pyeongtaek. The documents say the event took place on Oct 5 but do not give a start time or further details.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis publishes the first report that KB손해보험 has named former national team coach Isanaye Ramirez as its new head coach. [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the club's official announcement, saying it rated Ramirez's communication skills and leadership highly. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the official announcement ends the club's acting-coach system. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports that Ramirez's national team term ended on Oct 4, that he signed a formal contract, and that he greeted fans at the club's season launch ceremony in Pyeongtaek the same day. [ 4 ]