Park Mi-hee

1.1. Youth and Junior Years

Park Mi-hee's talent was recognized early in her middle school years, marking her as a promising prospect for the future of South Korean volleyball. She quickly rose through the ranks, achieving notable success in junior-level international competitions. In 1980, she led her team to victory at the Asian Junior Volleyball Championship, securing a gold medal. The following year, in 1981, she continued her winning streak by clinching another gold medal at the World Junior Championship held in Mexico.

1.2. National Team Career

Park Mi-hee's senior national team career began at the age of 19 in 1982. She participated in numerous major international competitions, representing South Korea with distinction. Her appearances include:

• 1982 World Championship (7th place)
• 1983 Asian Championship (Bronze medal)
• 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics (5th place)
• 1985 World Cup (7th place)
• 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics (8th place)
• 1989 World Cup (7th place)
• 1990 Beijing Asian Games (Silver medal)
• 1990 World Championship (5th place)

During the 1989 World Cup, despite primarily playing as a center, she was notably converted to a setter and served as the team captain, leading the team with her captivating presence. She retired from her playing career in 1991.

1.3. Club Team Career

In 1983, Park Mi-hee joined the industrial league team Midopa. She became a pivotal player for the club, contributing significantly to what is often referred to as Midopa's "golden age." During her time at Midopa, she played as a starting center, often alongside fellow prominent center Kim Ok-soon, showcasing her skills in both offense and defense.

1.4. Player Characteristics and Awards

Park Mi-hee was known for her versatile and dynamic playing style. Although not particularly tall for a volleyball player, standing at 68 in ^{(173 cm)} and weighing 143 lb ^{(65 kg)}, she excelled in the center position. Her exceptional defensive capabilities were particularly noteworthy, earning her the Defensive Award at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Her flamboyant play style earned her the famous nickname "Fox of the Court" (코트의 여우_{Koteu-ui Yeou}^Korean). In 1984, she was recognized for her outstanding performance by being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the inaugural President's Cup Volleyball Tournament.

2.1. Academic Pursuits and Coaching Preparation

After concluding her professional playing career, Park Mi-hee pursued higher education. She studied at Hanyang University in South Korea. Later, from 2003 to 2005, she continued her academic journey by studying at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, where she also served as an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education. These academic endeavors provided a foundation for her future roles, including her eventual transition into coaching.

2.2. Volleyball Commentary and Academic Roles

Upon her return to South Korea in 2006, Park Mi-hee began working as a volleyball commentator for KBS N Sports, a position she held until 2014. During this period, she continued her academic contributions alongside her commentary work. After her tenure as a head coach, she returned to KBS N Sports as a volleyball commentator in 2022, filling a vacancy left by Lee Sook-ja who transitioned to a coaching role.

3.1. Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders Coaching Period

In May 2014, Park Mi-hee was appointed as the head coach of the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders in the V-League, taking over a team that had been struggling. Her tenure with the Pink Spiders lasted for eight seasons, from the 2014-2015 season until the 2021-2022 season.

In her first season (2014-2015), she quickly made an impact, leading the Pink Spiders to the semifinals of the KOVO Cup in the fall and securing a top finish in the first round of the regular league. The team ultimately finished fourth in the season with a record of 15 wins and 15 losses, significantly improving from their last-place finish in the previous season.

Under her leadership, the team continued to develop. In the 2016-2017 season, demonstrating exceptional leadership, she guided the Pink Spiders to their first regular league championship in nine years. However, they were defeated by the Hwaseong IBK Altos in the Championship Final, finishing as runners-up.

Her greatest achievement came in the 2018-2019 season, when she once again led the team to win the regular league championship. Following this, the Pink Spiders faced Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass in the Championship Final and emerged victorious, clinching an integrated championship (winning both the regular season and the championship playoffs). This historic victory marked her as a "master coach" and was particularly significant as it was the first time a female coach in the V-League had achieved an integrated championship.

Park Mi-hee continued to coach the Pink Spiders for three more seasons (2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022). After the conclusion of the 2021-2022 season, her contract expired, and she stepped down, handing over the coaching position to Kwon Soon-chan.