SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 19, 2024. – March 18, 2024, will be a historic day for Puerto Rican volleyball, with Fernando Morales signing on as the new coach of the Korean national women’s team.
Morales opens a unique door in this sport as he becomes the first coach born in the island to work with a national team from another country.
“It was a very difficult decision to leave Puerto Rico after so many years as a player, assistant coach, and coach. But it’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass on, and it’s a big step for my career”, explained Morales.
Morales will make his debut on May 14 in the FIVB Nations League when he faces China. In the first phase, his other opponents will be Brazil, Dominican Republic, Canada, United States, Serbia, and Thailand.
Leading Puerto Rico last summer, Morales achieved an historic victory against the Dominican Republic in the Pan American Cup, where he later won the silver medal. He also won a silver medal in the 2021 at the NORCECA Championship and a silver medal in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador.
His work in the Korean peninsula will begin next month. “Training begins on April 15, so in less than a month, we’ll be there working together with Jesús (Echevarría)”. Echevarría, who worked with Morales in the Puerto Rican national team and at the University of Evansville, will be his assistant in Korea.
His agreement in Korea will last for the next three years until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “My agreement is for three years, but their plans are to have someone for two cycles; everything will be analyzed in due time”, concluded the former player with 15 seasons in Europe.
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