Cleveland Cavaliers-owned League of Legends team 100 Thieves will sign Neil "Pr0lly" Hammad as its head coach, sources close to the coach and the organization told ESPN.
The Cavaliers joined a growing list of NBA teams buying into the LCS earlier in October. The team will be managed by a number of venture capitalists -- including Detroit-based Blake Robbins and Jake Cohen, who both work for Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert -- and former Call of Duty pro player Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag, sources said. 100 Thieves did not respond to a request for comment.
Pr0lly is expected to sign with 100 Thieves after his contract with H2K Gaming expires on Monday, sources said. Riot Games allows players and coaches to begin signing with teams on Tuesday, the opening of the global free agency period.
Pr0lly has coached H2K since the end of 2014, shortly after his retirement from being a professional player. During his time with that team, it was consistently among the top of the league, most recently taking fifth-sixth and fourth in the 2017 European League Championship Series spring and summer splits respectively.
H2K is currently rebuilding its lineup as its players explore free agency, sources said. The team is also exploring options to potentially sell its brand after previously expressing issues with Riot Games' plans for the League Championship Series. It will sign free agent players Marc "Caedrel" Robert Lamont and Patrik "Sheriff" Jírů, according to a report and confirmed by ESPN.