T1 Academy sign VALAnalysis as new Head Coach

T1 Academy has officially brought on former NS Redforce coach Ma "ValAnalysis" Hyun-sung to help lead their up-and-coming talent in 2026.

T1 Academy has developed a reputation for developing talent that has either been promoted into their main team or found opportunities elsewhere. Throughout the 2025 season, T1 Academy was able to promote both Kang "DH" Dong-ho and Kim "KDG" Dong-gun into the main team, while also helping young rising star exa find a new home in Shopify Rebellion. Now, T1 Academy hopes that their newest head coach VALAnalysis will be able to help them continue to develop rising stars in VALORANT.

Who is T1 Academy's newest head coach?

VALAnalysis previously served as the head coach of Nongshim RedForce throughout the VCT Pacific 2025 season. There, he was able to help the team reach 5th-6th place in VCT Pacific Stage 2. Apart from his time at NS Redforce, he also served as Rare Atom's coach in 2023, leading the team to a second-place finish at VCT 2023 - VALORANT China Ascension 2023. He will now look to take his coaching experience to T1 Academy as he sets his sights on helping the VCT Pacific team develop up-and-coming talent in 2026.

VALAnalysis will be coming into 2026 with high expectations as T1 Academy stood as the best tier two Pacific team, but were unable to qualify for VCT Pacific Ascension due to being an Academy. T1 Academy’s 2026 lineup has not yet been revealed.

VALAnalysis will be replacing former head coach KDG, who was recently promoted to the main team where he helped T1 finish in 5th-6th place at Red Bull Home Ground 2025 - Main Event. After the team’s victory at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025, T1 will be looking to KDG to help the team reclaim their spot at the top of VCT Pacific in 2026. For now, both VALAnalysis and KDG will work in tandem to ensure T1’s 2026 season is a collective success as the storied organization looks towards making it back to the international stage.

Be sure to follow THESPIKE.GG for more VALORANT offseason content like this as we head closer to the start of the VCT Pacific season.

Image via Riot Games Pacific