HLTV has announced the finalists for the Coach of the Year 2025 award. The title of best coach of the season will be contested by hally (Spirit), maaRaa (The MongolZ), and XTQZZZ (Vitality). Immediately after the announcement, a discussion erupted on social media: journalists, analysts, and commentators openly began arguing not only about the favorite, but also about who was unfairly left out of the shortlist.
The ability to build structure
In modern CS2, the Coach of the Year award is no longer reduced to the question “who won more trophies.” The community focuses on system-building, work with young players, the ability to build structure, and to extract the maximum from the available roster. It is precisely around these criteria that the debate has emerged, centered on the three HLTV contenders — and MOUZ coach sycrone, who did not make the final list.
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About maaRaa and his impact on The MongolZ
Richard Lewis drew attention to how the coach works with the existing lineup.
Probably a controversial opinion, but if we agree that all coaches actually contribute equally and their value is how much they get out of the pieces they have to work with, then the only conclusion is that Maaraa should win.
The idea is that a coach’s work should be evaluated not only through the prism of trophies or big-name players in the roster. What matters is how well he unlocks the potential of the players already in the team. In the case of The MongolZ, this became the key argument.
A team without major transfers and star contracts consistently reached the decisive stages of big tournaments. This means the system works and players develop within the lineup. That is why maaRaa is viewed as a coach who uses the “available resources” as efficiently as possible.
About sycrone and MOUZ’s success under difficult conditions
Analyst Mauisnake emphasized the context in which the MOUZ coach works.
Sycrone doesn’t have any top 10 players and has a rookie IGL. Reached semifinals or better in 90% of tournaments.
The main emphasis here is on the roster. MOUZ has no top-10 players, and the team competes with a rookie in-game leader. Despite this, results remain stable, and the team regularly reaches the late stages of tournaments.
This demonstrates not only discipline but also a built, functioning structure. MOUZ do not rely on a single individual star, but on a system. That is why sycrone is named as one of the most notable coaches of the year, even despite the absence from the final nomination list.
About the absence of sycrone among the finalists
Teodor Borisov reacted to the fact that the MOUZ coach was not included among the three finalists.
Surprised sycrone isn’t there. Think Mauisnake was building his case to even be number one. Regardless of whether that’s the case or not — considering the pieces he’s got and MOUZ’s consistency — he definitely should be in the Top 3 in my opinion.
This position clearly reflects the idea of underestimation. MOUZ showed stable results throughout the entire season despite a roster far from “superstar” status. This became the basis for the opinion that he should have been among the contenders.
The argument is simple: if we take into account the level of available players and the final consistency, a place in the top three looks logical. Therefore, questions about the criteria for selecting coaches arose naturally.
About XTQZZZ and the role of star players in Vitality
The community also voiced ironic remarks regarding the Vitality coach.
And probably the ‘ZywOo, do your thing’ coach is going to get it.
The meaning of the comment is that the presence of a superstar allegedly simplifies the coach’s job. Vitality is often perceived as a team where the individual skill of the leader decides. Therefore, the opinion arises that XTQZZZ supposedly has an easier task.
However, real results show otherwise. The team remained at a consistently high level throughout the season, and the structure of play was systematic. It is within this system that the star AWPer realized his potential, which is also the coach’s work, not only individual player brilliance.
Trophies or coaching impact?
The debate around Coach of the Year reveals the key question: what exactly is being evaluated — trophies or coaching impact. If the priority is titles and global dominance, then XTQZZZ and hally look like logical favorites. If, however, the focus is on player development, lifting underdogs, and exceeding expectations, then the arguments in favor of maaRaa and sycrone become stronger. The year 2025 showed that the coaching role in CS2 is no longer a shadow function: coaches are expected not only to deliver tactics, but also systemic management, psychological work, and integration of young talents.
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Coach of the Year 2025
The Coach of the Year 2025 award has not yet been presented, but it has already generated the loudest discussion among all individual nominations. hally, maaRaa, and XTQZZZ will fight for the official title, while sycrone’s name will remain the main “unfairly absent” finalist for part of the expert community. Who ultimately receives the award will be revealed at the HLTV Awards, but it is already clear that the coach’s role in modern CS2 is assessed not only by medals, but also by how he changes the team, the players, and the scene itself.
