He always modestly said that he still has to learn a lot from the veterans who came before him in Vietnamese volleyball, but one thing that this coach always keeps in mind is that teachers and students must trust each other to ensure professional success.
The word teacher is very noble
At the beginning of the conversation, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet said that many reporters always focus on asking about their expertise every time they discuss. However, for him, after years of competition and then moving to coaching, every success must come from the trust of both sides (players and coaches).
Mr. Kiet discussed: "I grew up in a family with a tradition of volleyball. My father and mother are both people who understand volleyball very well. My father used to be a coach. He is very strict in his professional training.
However, one point he has taught me very carefully is the viewpoint of having to protect athletes above all. I learned a lot from my father from that philosophy and I applied it to the teams I worked for. That is, ensuring everything for athletes as well as teaching athletes the most meticulous care from expertise to lifestyle".
When asked how he evaluates the profession of volleyball coaching? coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet affirmed that the word "teacher" is always very noble. Nobeliness is not only in expertise but also in respect for life when we learn from teachers who have trained us, helping us grow.
After that, if anyone continues their career as a coach, they must also do their best professional work, instructing students in all aspects. Volleyball is a sport that requires time to practice. An athlete cannot complete the technique immediately if they only practice for one or two months. Therefore, teachers need to train them meticulously, Mr. Kiet added.
When entering his coaching career, Mr. Kiet experienced a military environment in the youth coaching staff of the Information Corps team. He once said that working professionally to coach young players helps him mature. The top point Mr. Kiet accumulates for himself is patience with work: Each teacher has a training method. But, I see that together we all aim to improve our athletes' techniques to the best.
Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet has gone through many professional units at the club level such as: Information Corps Team, Vietinbank, Quang Ninh and currently Vietinbank Team. This coach himself believes that each environment helps him accumulate multidimensional perspectives to serve his coaching work.
He analyzed: A teacher who has worked will not put his ego at the top. Especially, when you are a female athlete coach, listening is always necessary to create the best team.
expertise is paramount
The turning point in coaching career of coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet was 2011. At that time, at the age of 35, Mr. Kiet unexpectedly took on the task of head coach of the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team participating in the SEA Games to replace the Chinese expert with a health problem. At the end of the Congress, the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team won the Silver Medal.
However, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet shared many times that his first job as head coach of the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team caused him many difficulties but he completed the task more than he expected.
In the past 3 years, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team have witnessed important achievements for fans and professionals. I do not think that the achievements of the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team belong to anyone, including myself.
All of these results are from the efforts of the team, not only the 14 official players but also the support of the coaching staff and those behind. Volleyball is a collective sport, each member has the same important task, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet discussed.
For coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet, the goal of achieving the highest achievement at the 33rd SEA Games is the goal that he is focusing on preparing for this year.
However, Mr. Kiet said that personally, he was somewhat satisfied with his students when they let the world know that Vietnamese sports also have a Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team that is not less professional. The three milestones that Mr. Kiet assessed as having significant professional value are the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team winning an official ticket to the 2025 World Championship, winning a Bronze Medal at the 2024 FIVB Challenge Cup and winning the second leg of the 2025 SEA V.League.
As a coach, I really appreciate the spirit and the result factor so that my students can focus on their goals. Vietnam women's volleyball participating in the 2025 World Championship is certainly a very valuable mark for the players. It is not easy for Vietnamese volleyball to achieve this, but the Vietnamese female players have done it. The beginning is always difficult, but when the path is opened, we have the right to hope to continue to continue to follow that result in future opportunities, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet added.
Eat dialogue when in trouble
Mr. Kiet believes that a player who wants to succeed must demonstrate his abilities. I am an adult from the setter position, so I always keep a dialogue with my own teacher to get to know each other professionally. Therefore, when I am a coach, I am always open to let players give their own professional views. From there, teachers and students understand which factors will best ensure the strategy, the coach discussed.
In his coaching method, Mr. Kiet does not allow any player to give up if they fall into difficult moments on the field. When the cameras turned to this teacher during the minutes of discussion on the field, the audience always saw coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet giving a very strong direction. He said that it is also one of the psychological therapies to help players overcome hesitation to get the spirit to enter the field to demonstrate their full professional ability.
In his heart, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet still maintains the top goal of helping the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team narrow the professional gap with the Thailand Women's Volleyball Team. Regarding this, fans and experts are starting to see a clear change. The Vietnamese women's volleyball team no longer has the option of losing all-time against the Thai team.
"I have discussed with my students many times that each of them must maintain their spirit when competing and we do well in each situation to have enough opportunities to compete with the Thai team. Thai volleyball has developed very well, achieving many results in the international arena. What I always give to the players is to focus, be ready not to give up and then there will be a chance to win.
In fact, the Vietnam Women's Volleyball Team won 3-2 against the Thailand Women's Volleyball Team in the second phase of the 2025 SEA V.League. For the first time, we beat the other team in an official international tournament.
