Young head coaches conquer the win2day ICE Hockey League - Part 1: David Kiss

The win2day ICE Hockey League known for its experienced coaches has - with the signing of Dávid Kiss and Dylan Stanley to the head coaching position - received a refreshing dose of youth and dynamism. Both are among the youngest head coaches in Europe, and their stories are a testament to a shared passion and loyalty for their respective organizations and a commitment to building successful teams.

Part 1: David Kiss: rising to the challenge
Dávid Kiss, the new head coach of Hydro Fehérvár AV 19, was "thrust" into the head coaching role under unexpected circumstances, taking over just before the start of the season from Kevin Constantine, who suddenly left Székesfehérvár despite having a current contract. "It was as surprising for me as for everyone else. But I understand Kevin's decision and I have to say that I am really grateful to have worked with him. I learned a lot from him. I was excited about the opportunity and said yes right away. If I had said no, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life, so there was no long decision-making process," says Dávid Kiss.

For Kiss, who started coaching at a young age, this opportunity meant realizing a dream. "That's why I started coaching, so that one day I could coach this team," he emphasizes. Despite the suddenness of his appointment, Kiss was well prepared to take on the role of the head coach. He was already part of the coaching staff and had a deep understanding of the team and the league. "We already had a plan for the offseason in August in terms of test matches, and the squad was set as well. So not much changed for me, except that I was in charge from then on. My coaching staff and the management helped me a lot, so the preparation for the new season went smoothly," Kiss says.

Dávid Kiss's coaching philosophy was ready-made even before he took over the head coach position from Fehérvár. "Even a year or two later, I would not have been more experienced. I learned from great coaches and my philosophy was already formed." David Kiss attaches great importance to the freedom of the players within the team structure, which allows for everyone to develop while preserving the system of play. "It's always a matter of maintaining the natural enthusiasm and excitement of the players so that they come to the gym every day with joy. Of course, there are better and worse days, victories help morale, and after defeats we have to learn from them and figure out what we can take for the next game," Kiss said.

His young age compared to other coaches in the league did not present a challenge for Kiss in terms of authority. He had already established himself as a coach and had found success with the team. "I overcame what was only a small age gap with communication, mutual respect and a healthy dose of empathy," explains Kiss, who is only 33. A unique aspect of Kiss' role is that he even coaches a player older than him. But he doesn't think those age differences affect how the team works together. "We respect our roles on the team and help each other achieve our common goals," he emphasizes.

Part 2 of the series "Young head coaches conquer the win2day ICE Hockey League" with Dylan Stanley from the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg will be published on Saturday.