[hkes_show_google_ad] Sergey “starix” Ishchuk will be stepping down as Na`Vi’s coach, the team announced Friday. He will be replaced by Na`Vi’s team’s analyst, Andrey “ANDI” Prokhorov. According to the organization’s CEO, Yevhen Zolotarev, the team have struggled to adjust to Valve’s August in-game coaching ban, in particular starix, whose position and responsibilities changed significantly with the ban. “Sergey has been working in tough conditions right from the beginning, as he had to depart from the teammate’s position and take on a completely new role, which required keeping distance, working individually with each player and being fair and objective at all times,” Zolotarev said in a statement. “He was doing well as an in-game leader, but as the coaching restriction came, the team entered a slump. After the Katowice event, we all had a talk and decided to give Sergey some time to recharge his batteries.” The announcement confirms a Friday morning report from HLTV’s Luis “MIRAA” Mira. According to the announcement, starix is still contracted to the team, but he has the option to either continue coaching in some capacity or go back to playing after a period of leave. Before being appointed the team’s coach in 2015, starix was the team’s rifler and had played with them since 2010. Despite a big win at ESL One: New York in November, the squad have under-performed of late with a 5-8th finish at the ELEAGUE Major and placing 5-6th at IEM Katowice. Regarding the decision to replace starix, Na`Vi manager Eugene “ugin” Yerofeev explains that the task of an esports coach can be significantly more difficult than that of a traditional sports coach, as the grassroots nature of esports means that many players are self-taught and independent. “The task of a coach is extremely difficult. The players have to improve their own skills only, whereas the coach has to work both on himself and each and every player individually as well as teach them to work in a team and win,” ugin said in a statement. “This job is not easy, it’s very stressful. Of course, it’s hard to compare coaches in traditional sport and here, and it is clear that in most cases the problem is not centered around a single person – it usually depends on the entire team. But being in a situation we are in today, we cannot leave things unchanged.” [hkes_show_google_ad]