Wildcard coach Vincent "vinS" Jozefiak is one of the rare coaches who never played professionally but has made a name for himself purely through coaching. His impact on Wildcard has been remarkable, helping elevate the team to a new level. In an interview with Bo3.gg, vinS discussed his transition to an international roster, the team’s approach to adapting their map pool, and how structured leadership has been key to their success. He also shared insights on Wildcard’s strengths, the challenges of developing star players, and his philosophy on modern coaching.

Is everyone settled and ready for the tournament?

Yeah, everyone is ready. We've been practicing hard for a week, fixing our mistakes and weak maps. We're prepared.

What kind of preparations have you made? What was your top priority before the tournament?

It was clear we had issues on some maps, especially Anubis, where we lost 0-13 to Liquid. We focused a lot on improving it while also practicing other maps to strengthen our pool. This might be the first tournament where we feel comfortable on all six maps. We'll see how it goes.

Regarding your map pool, before Train was introduced, your permban was Mirage. Now it seems like Mirage and Train are both weak spots. How does that affect your draft flexibility? Which map do you favor more?

Actually, we didn't have a strict first ban. We used to play all seven maps, though we leaned towards Vertigo, where we had an 80% win rate. Losing that map was unfortunate, but we're adapting. We're still working on all maps, and Train is looking promising.

Can you elaborate on Train? Many teams struggled with it at Katowice and BLAST, with no dominant performances. Do you think the map is ready for competitive play?

Like with any new map, teams are still figuring out the best way to play both CT and T sides. Katowice was the first tournament where teams were testing strategies, and now everyone is learning from each other. I think Train is in a good place. The only change I'd suggest is adding a way to access the 6 train from Ivy. Other than that, I believe it's ready. I'd actually prefer adjustments to Anubis, as it feels too T-sided.

What could help balance Anubis?

It's difficult to say. CTs struggle with utility retention, and if they use their nades early, Ts can execute with ease. The angles also favor the Ts, making it tough for CTs to hold positions. If a team makes the wrong reaction, they can get steamrolled. Maybe adding more positions for CTs to contest control would help.

You started the year with a win at the Frost and Fire tournament. While not a major event, did it boost team morale?

Definitely. When we formed this team, we aimed to qualify for our second Major, with no pressure on the first one. Winning Frost and Fire proved that we’re on the right track and boosted our confidence. It’s crucial to win tournaments like these, as they help with invites and rankings, making it easier to enter Tier 1 events.

There’s a discussion in the community about VRS, with lower-tier teams struggling for opportunities. Do you agree that the system needs changes?

I haven’t looked into it deeply, but since we get invites, it doesn’t affect us much. However, I do think there should be open qualifiers for Majors. Beyond that, I don’t have a strong opinion.

Your roster features a strong trio — Sonic, jBa, and Stanislaw. What makes them so effective together?

We don’t have a single “heart and soul” of the team; everyone contributes uniquely. But this trio improved significantly because they were talented but a bit outdated in their approach. My role, along with the Swedish players, was to modernize their game. Aran, in particular, is our star player now. He had raw skill but lacked awareness of the current meta. Once he started watching demos and learning from others, his potential was unlocked.

When you joined Wildcard with the Swedish players, how did you transition from a mix of ideas into a cohesive team?

From the start, Stanislaw and I structured our approach. He handled the T-side while I focused on the CT-side. We met before practice to align our strategies and only introduced fully planned sessions to the team. This method helped everyone get on the same page faster. Now, the team is more involved in discussions, but in the beginning, clear leadership was key.

Qualifying for the Major was a big step. How did that impact the team?

It was huge. Our original goal was to qualify for the second Major, so making the first one exceeded expectations. It validated our work and boosted our confidence.

What are your expectations for PGL Cluj-Napoca?

Our goal is to reach the playoffs. Once there, anything can happen. We’re taking it step by step, starting with our match against MIBR.

The competition is tight. What will give you an edge over other teams?

The top four teams — The Mongols, MOUZ, FaZe, and one more—stand out. Among the remaining twelve, everyone is on a similar level. Our biggest advantage is Stanislaw’s experience as an IGL. That could be the key factor in making playoffs.

What do you think about your match against MIBR?

It’s an interesting matchup. We have similar map pools, so both teams will get to play their strong maps. It should be a great match with high-level CS.

Your coaching career started differently, without a background as a player. How did you get into coaching?

It started with PRIDE, a Polish team looking for an analyst. They recruited from unknown talent, and I was selected among ten candidates. After passing their test, I became their academy coach. That’s how my coaching career began.

Did you face skepticism from players since you weren’t a pro player?

Not really. I was passionate about CS, but when I was 19, I still considered playing. The CEO of Pride told me to focus on coaching because I had potential. There are plenty of coaches who weren’t pro players — XTQZZZ from Vitality and even NAVI coach in 2017, for example. It’s becoming more common.

Do you think not having a pro-player background gives you an advantage?

In some ways, yes. Many former players-turned-coaches see the game from their own perspective, thinking, “I would have done this.” I’ve always approached coaching differently, focusing on understanding how players think and react in real-time rather than just analyzing demos.

You transitioned from being an analyst to a head coach. How did that happen?

A retired player, Looz, saw potential in me and encouraged me to try coaching. That’s when I moved from analyst to head coach for the main team.

How did you develop your coaching style over the years?

Joining PACT was a turning point. I worked with experienced players and realized I needed to put in more effort. I watched demos for eight hours a day and worked over twelve hours to improve. That experience shaped my coaching philosophy and helped me understand how to elevate my players.

Moving to Wildcard was a big shift. How did you adjust from Polish rosters to an international team?

Moving to Wildcard was a significant shift for me. In Poland, I was never part of the biggest organizations, and I never had the absolute best players on my teams. The best player I played with was always Sobol—he was incredible, and I truly believe he deserved a top-tier team. But apart from him, I never had access to the highest-caliber Polish rosters like those in AGO or Anonymo in their prime. The biggest change for me has been the overall quality of my teammates. For the first time, I felt like I had five strong players around me, which is something I never experienced before. 

In Poland, we had a serious issue with star players—we had plenty of solid anchors, a few good entry fraggers, and a lot of skilled snipers, but we lacked true star players, the ones who can take over a game. Now, in Wildcard, I feel like I have two players who can fill that role—Sonic, obviously, but also susp. That makes it much easier to build a structured meta and work on strategies because they grasp concepts much faster than Polish players typically did.