The former TSM and Turtle Troop coach enters a new chapter of his career with T1.
SOUTH KOREA – T1 have announced the signing of Jacob “Daeda” Hale as the team’s new coach. It is as coach to Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum that Daeda will now use his expertise, with T1’s next event slated to be VCT Pacific KICKOFF on February 17-25.
“Happy to return to VCT. It has been a great two months, so I can’t wait to show our work this season,” Daeda took to Twitter to express his enthusiasm about moving across the world with T1. “I started my career as a nobody in Rainbow Six Siege rose to the very top, and made a name for myself. Coming into a new esport, you start back at the very bottom, and I’m looking to climb back and claim another crown if I play my hand right.”
ALSO READ: Where and How to Watch VCT Pacific KICKOFF (Official & Watch Party)
The American is best known for his three-year stint with TSM, during which he initially started as part of their Rainbow Six Siege coaching staff throughout the 2020 to 2023 seasons and played an important role in their success, including their victory at the Six Invitational 2022 and qualification for three other Invitational/Major events.
Daeda’s responsibilities broadened beyond Rainbow Six Siege in May 2022 when he assumed the role of Data Analyst for TSM’s VALORANT roster before being promoted four months later to the position of the team’s Head Coach. Daeda helped them to qualify for both splits in VALORANT Challengers North America in 2023. However, on the same day as the team’s exit from the Playoffs, finishing in the last 7-8th place, Daeda and TSM parted ways.
Before making the move to T1, Daede spent a brief period during the 2023 OFF//SEASON coaching the non-backed Turtle Troop team, sharing the same banner with Peter “Governor” No, who currently plays for Talon Esports, and Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo, now his teammate at T1.
Daeda’s arrival is set to bring much-needed expertise to the core of the T1 roster, leveraging his well-established background in providing analytical support to a team.
T1 will face the newly-ascended Bleed Esports squad in the opening round of VCT Pacific KICKOFF on Saturday, February 17, at 2 PM SGT (UTC+8). The stakes are high, with two VALORANT Masters Madrid berths up for grabs to represent the Pacific region.
With Daeda’s addition, T1 currently have:
- 🇰🇷 Ha “Sayaplayer” Jung-woo
- 🇰🇷 Lee “Carpe” Jae-hyeok
- 🇰🇷 Ham “iZu” Woo-joo
- 🇮🇩 Kevin “xccurate” Susanto
- 🇺🇸 Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo
- 🇰🇷 Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum (Head coach)
- 🇨🇦 Dakota “Stunner” MacLeod (Coach)
- 🇰🇷 Lee “CheongGak” Il-ho (Coach)
- 🇺🇸 Jacob “Daeda” Hale (Coach)
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Cover photo courtesy of TSM
