Roccat part ways with head coach and hold ADC trials

Roccat is already making changes as it prepares to face the relegation gauntlet after a bitterly disappointing Spring Split.

The team has parted ways with head coach Titus “Ducky” Hafner, according to sources close to the squad.

Before the season, many called Roccat “winners of the offseason,” and at the very least they were expected to claim a position in the top three of the European League Championship Series. After dramatically failing to meet those expectations, the team felt the need for change.

Ducky joined Roccat at the start of the 2015 season from fellow LCS competitors Copenhagen Wolves. Roccat’s poor performance this split played a key part in the departure, though differences of opinion between the coach and some of the players was also a factor.

While Ducky is thus far the only certain casualty of the season, the team could be close to cutting ties with AD Carry Paweł “Woolite” Pruski. The player has received the brunt of the criticism aimed at Roccat, and poor performances in the final week may have put his position under threat. The team is considering high elo solo queue player “EXORKK” as a possible replacement for the upcoming relegation tournament. He’s been recently seen duo queuing with Roccat support player Oskar “Vander” Bogdan. Ruben “ChewedUp” Rodriguez, a U.K. player with limited competitive experience, is also on trial for the AD Carry position. 

Both Ducky and Woolite joined Roccat from fellow LCS outfit Copenhagen Wolves. Ducky had been praised as the brains behind the operation, helping keep the side in the LCS, while Woolite was one of the more notable performers during a disappointing split.

Update March 30, 11:25am CT: Added additional information about trialists.

Photo via Riot Games/Flickr