One of the dark horses of the League Championship Series (LCS), 100 Thieves is entering the fray with an interesting and promising roster in 2024. With GoldenGlue leading the charge as the team's head coach, the squad of mostly young rookies now hope to prove they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in North America. In this exclusive interview, the 27-year-old American coach sits down to discuss expectations and goals for the team.

| Could you summarize your journey from retiring as a player to now being appointed as head coach in the LCS? Did you go through any struggles in your transition?

GoldenGlue: “Transitioning from being a player to coaching at 100 Thieves has been quite an interesting journey.“

“When I first started coaching, I struggled with imposter syndrome. Even though I was having success, my confidence wasn't that high. I kept thinking that maybe I would be successful because of the players I had, and I couldn't really feel the impact as much as I did when I was a player.“

“It was a work in progress, and I started feeling better about it by the end of the second year, but I still wasn't super confident. Taking a six-month break was a big thing for me. I wasn't sure if I was going to get back into coaching; I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life.“

“Then Disguised Toast reached out, and it seemed like a fun and interesting project. It appeared quite challenging. I had only about five or six days before matches would start, and we didn't have anyone—no roster. We were fully remote, with hardly any resources. I was just trying to gather some guys together to play online and see what we could do. The expectations were honestly pretty low.“

“When I managed to build a team, I feel like I got lucky with good players. The fact that we were able to win the whole NACL league under those conditions gave me a lot of confidence in my ability.“

“Having some time off allowed me to reflect on what I wanted to do and where I felt uniquely positioned to make a difference. Given my pro playing experience and my background in sports, I realized that I love being in competitive team environments.“

“Now, as the head coach of an LCS team, I feel like I have the resources to assemble the players and coaching staff. It's fulfilling because I can create the kind of team environment I wished for as a player. I want to provide these guys with the support they need to succeed, allowing them to stand on my shoulders. That's where I am now, and I'm grateful and happy to be here.“

| How different is the work environment between Disguised and 100 Thieves?

GoldenGlue: “There's a significant difference. I absolutely loved my time on Disguised, but it was more of a makeshift, last-minute operation where I handled everything. Now, it's a whole different ballgame. There are more logistics to consider—we've got food, an office to go to, HR, a 401k, and just a lot more going on.“

“I also need to do a better job of showcasing our progress to my managers and the rest of the company. In the past, I didn't have to worry about any of that; it was more about playing some League of Legends and discussing it. It definitely feels a lot more professional now, and that's probably the most significant change.“

| What do you believe to be the first mistake a rookie player can make?

GoldenGlue: “There are various aspects to consider, it's quite person-specific. One thing I'm particularly focused on instilling in our rookies is that it's completely okay to make mistakes, especially on stage. Oddly, no one really emphasized that to me when I was going pro; it just wasn't something people talked about. But avoiding mistakes out of fear can hinder you from making good plays. You have to be willing to take risks and be okay with looking a bit foolish. I want to empower my players to take risks on stage and try things out. That's crucial for me, and I hope to convey that idea effectively to the rookies.“

| It's very easy for new players to struggle in their rookie years and have their career or image tainted because of it. Is the team taking measures to ensure the growth of this new roster and avoid such issues?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, absolutely. To prevent such issues, I'm focused on ensuring my players don't feel the pressure of being replaced, even if they have a tough split or a rough start. I'm not looking to buy into whatever narratives created by the media or Reddit. What matters to me is whether they are putting in the effort, working on the necessary aspects, taking risks, and showing improvement. I want them to understand that I don't expect them to come out and immediately excel. The key for me is to see them progressing and dedicating themselves to the areas they need to work on.“

| Did you have influence on building this roster?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, absolutely. I had a hand in selecting all the players. When I came in, we went through an application process, and I played a role in choosing the assistant coach and all the players.“

| Since you picked a lot of rather new talents, I assume that you are quite dedicated to keeping this roster long-term right?

GoldenGlue: “I think it would be a massive failure if we didn't keep the majority of our roster next year. I'm fully committed and dedicated to this, and I know the guys share the same level of commitment.“

| Any particular insights on Sniper and his debut?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, everyone's pumped about Sniper. I find Sniper's instincts really impressive; that's a standout quality. What's funny is that he still lacks a fair bit of game knowledge, and he often needs to go on the League of Legends wiki and read up on what some abilities do.“

| So he's missing fundamentals and basic game knowledge basically?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, he just needs to grasp a better understanding of what everything does. While he's shown improvement and learning through playing the game, he could benefit from improving his research skills. That's the specific area he needs to focus on. I believe he has the potential for some hype moments in the LCS, given his good instincts for making big plays or finding unique angles for TP flanks that could potentially turn the game in our favor. However, he still has a lot of work to do on his fundamentals.“

| Any fun rivalries? Maybe Shopify Rebellion due to the ex-Disguised members on that roster?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, I'm looking forward to the Shopify match. Zeyzal and I go way back to our days playing together on C9, and we've had a lot of success on DSG. He was undoubtedly the player leader on that roster. It's going to be enjoyable, especially with Meech on our team, essentially splitting the bot lane between the two teams. I'm genuinely excited about facing Shopify Rebellion; it should be a fun match.“

| Where do you see 100 Thieves land in the LCS? What is its skill ceiling, its floor?

GoldenGlue: “Yeah, in terms of our potential, if everything aligns perfectly, I believe we could maybe secure a spot at Worlds, possibly as the third team, maybe even the second. As for the lowest point we might reach, I prefer not to speculate on that just yet. This year, aside from C9 standing out as a formidable team, the competition seems pretty close. It's shaping up to be a bit of a dogfight among other teams.“

| Closing Thoughts?

GoldenGlue: “I just want to say thank you to all the fans who've been supporting me and the team, I really appreciate you guys' support. You know, there's been people who have been supporting me for like a decade now. If you are one of them, thank you, I appreciate you. I get to be here because of all of them. Also shout-out to my mom, dad, and my family!“

What's next?

With a strong schedule ahead of them, 100 Thieves is poised to enter the LCS 2024 Spring Split on January 20th. Facing off against Team Liquid and Cloud9 in their first two matches, GoldenGlue and his players will have to bring a whole new level of play if they want to compete with the rest of the league. With expectations looming over their heads, the team now hopes to grow fast and show promise in a new setting.

Week 1 100 Thieves LCS Schedule: