Chun Hee-chul
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Born | Jeonju KCC Egis | June 26, 1973||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003–2008 | Seoul SK Knights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011–present | Seoul SK Knights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Chun Hee-chul | |
Hangul | 전희철 |
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Hanja | 全喜哲 |
Revised Romanization | Jeon Huicheol |
McCune–Reischauer | Chŏn Hŭich'ŏl |
Chun Hee-chul (born June 26, 1973 in Seoul) is a South Korean basketball coach and retired player. Chun is a swingman who can play in both the center and forward positions. In his prime he boasted athleticism, the ability to dunk and a mid-range jump shot which was rare for players of his height in domestic basketball at that time, earning him the nicknames "Airborne" and "Air Hee-chul".[1][2][3]
After retiring as a player, Chun went into coaching. He has been a coach at Seoul SK Knights since 2011 and was appointed head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Early life
Chun began playing basketball in elementary school "by accident" after being encouraged by his father, a sports enthusiast.[2] It was not until he attended Samseon Middle School, a well-known basketball school, that he began aspiring to become a basketball player.[4] He attended Kyungbock High School in Seoul and was recruited by Korea University during his last year of high school.[5] He was middle and high school classmates with future national teammate and best friend Woo Ji-won.[6]
Playing career
College career
At Korea University, Chun was a member of the dominant "Tiger Corps" which included Hyun Joo-yup, future KBL Rookie of the Year Shin Ki-sung and future KBL regular season MVP Kim Byung-chul.[1] During his senior year, they won the college division of the National Basketball Festival, then one of the main collegiate competitions.[7]
His time at Korea University coincided with what is often retrospectively dubbed the "golden era" of domestic college basketball. He and his teammates, as well as their counterparts from traditional athletic
Professional career
Chun began his career in 1996 and is among the last generation of players who began their careers during the semi-professional era; the professional league (
In 1998, Chun enlisted for mandatory military service. Unlike many of his counterparts, he was assigned to be a public service worker instead of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu basketball team).[13] In between his routine duties with the Forest Service, he trained in the nearest gym by himself with amateur players. Tongyang were unable to find suitable replacements as he and Kim had enlisted at the same time as several other key players and the mid-table team finished the 1998–99 season at the bottom of the league table.[14] Chun was discharged ahead of the 1999-00 season. His assignment turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he was discharged earlier than his counterparts who joined the Sangmu team.[13]
In 2002, Chun signed with
In 2003, Chun joined Seoul SK Knights. The 2007-08 season was forgettable as he was mostly on the bench or unavailable due to injuries. With his contract ending that season, he chose to retire rather than join another team or renegotiate another contract.[17] His number 13 jersey was retired by the Knights.[18]
National team
Chun's versatility meant that he was registered as a center or forward in different competitions. He was part of the squad at the
Chun was recalled to the squad for the 2002 Asian Games, where he played as a forward due to Seo Jang-hoon and rookie Kim Joo-sung being preferred as the main centers.[22] During the final against a dominant China led by Yao Ming, he and Hyun Joo-yup both scored more than 20 points in a tight game, earning themselves the nickname "China Killers". The Koreans managed to climb back from behind to win 102–100 in overtime; it was their first gold in men's basketball at the Asian Games in two decades.[23]
Coaching career
Chun remained with Seoul SK Knights after retiring as a player. Before going into coaching, he worked as a player performance analyst. He transitioned into coaching and worked under long-time teammate Moon Kyung-eun on the coaching staff. After the 2020-21 season ended, the club announced that Moon would be moving to technical advisor role and Chun became the new head coach.[24][25]
Personal life
Chun married former air stewardess Kwon Jung-eun in 2003.[26][27] They have two daughters (born in 2004 and 2006).[28]
References
- ^ a b "'농구선수 인기 많네' 착각 말고, 개인 기량 더 키워야". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c "'에어본' 전희철, 코치 변신 위한 '8년의 여정'" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. April 6, 2015.
- ^ "흔한 풍경이 된 '토종 덩크'… 원조는 1978년 조동우". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). January 14, 2022.
- ^ "[학교 탐방] 삼선중 1편 - 55년 된 체육관, 그래도 보수 작업은 꾸준히!" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. December 19, 2021.
- ^ "[학교 탐방] 경복고 1편 - 아마추어를 대표하는 전통 명가, 다시 꿈꾸는 '최강'의 자리" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. December 26, 2021.
- ^ "[프로농구] 전희철, 대구서 라이벌 우지원 제압". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). February 25, 2002.
- ^ a b c "동양제과 창단 첫대회서 우승 감격-코리안리그 남자농구". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). April 23, 1996.
- joins.com. October 17, 2020.
- ^ "문경은·우지원 등 오빠들이 돌아왔다". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 4, 2003.
- ^ "[솔직토크] '은퇴하는 세 거물' 문경은-이상민-우지원". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 19, 2010.
- ^ "[농구대잔치]동양제과,기아에 대역전승". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). December 20, 1996.
- ^ "대구 동양에서 고양 오리온, 김병철부터 이승현까지" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. March 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "[프로농구] '복귀신고'전희철·우지원 못말리는 자존심 싸움". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). October 19, 1999.
- ^ "[취재현장]"인생 대역전"". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). March 8, 2002.
- ^ "꼴찌팀 '구조조정' 2년연속 V일궈". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). March 9, 2003.
- ^ "농구-심판 부주의한 판정에 코트 피로 얼룩져." (in Korean). KBS. January 9, 2003.
- ^ "왕년 '오빠'들 우지원·김병철·전희철 FA시장 앞에선…". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). May 13, 2008.
- ^ "전희철 배번 13번 영구결번 'SK의 전설'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). October 27, 2008.
- ^ Olympic results
- ^ "[농구] 전희철-우지원 아시안게임 못뛴다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). October 2, 1998.
- ^ "[아시안게임]남자농구 '예고된 참패'". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). December 21, 1998.
- ^ "14년 전의 기적…부산아시안게임 농구 결승전" (in Korean). KBS. October 14, 2016.
- ^ "[농구] '20년동안 이 날을 기다렸다'". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). October 15, 2002.
- ^ "SK지휘봉 전희철에 넘겨준 문경은 "그대라서 다행이다"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). June 2, 2021.
- ^ "프로농구 SK, 전희철 감독 선임…문경은 전 감독은 기술자문". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 29, 2021.
- ^ "KCC 전희철, 31일 권정은양과 결혼". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 12, 2003.
- ^ "전희철 등 시즌 끝낸 농구스타들 '웨딩마치'" (in Korean). KBS. March 31, 2003.
- joins.com. April 2, 2009.
External links
- Chun Hee-chul at sksports.net
- Career Statistics from the Korean Basketball League website (in Korean)