Nathan King is a young coach without an extensive cricketing background and, rightly or wrongly, people will perceive both as a weakness.
A lack of a first-class career has not held others back but that gap in his curriculum vitae has attracted a lot of attention since he was confirmed as Otago coach earlier this week.
''The first thing people look for is a playing background, and when a coach does not have a strong playing background it is one of the first questions asked,'' King said.
''But not being a former first-class cricketer has taught me that I need to learn a lot of other skills around what makes a good coach, and that is one advantage of not being a former player.
''You've got to admire [Black Caps coach Mike Hesson] and what he has been able to achieve ... and he is an inspiration for someone like me because he has shown it can be done.''
King has certainly had a long apprenticeship.
He began working at the Otago Cricket Association a week before he finished his final exam - he has a degree in physical education from the University of Otago.
That was the best part of 11 years ago.
The fact King has risen from community cricket co-ordinator to head coach speaks volumes of the regard in which he is held.
He coached the Sparks for three seasons before he accepted a role as Volts assistant coach in 2012-13 and also worked with the White Ferns.
He has worked under two Otago coaches - Vaughn Johnson and Dimitri Mascarenhas. The former guided Otago to a twenty20 title in 2012-13.
The Volts won 15 consecutive twenty20 matches that season, including five at the Champions League in India.
King was part of that campaign and that experience will have served him well.
''There is a mixture of emotions. I'm actually really excited but closer to the time I'll probably get a bit nervous. I think my biggest role is to provide the environment which allows every player to improve and part of that is bringing in the right people that I know can make a difference for the players.''
Former Otago captain Craig Cumming is on the staff at Otago cricket and nearby whenever King needs to call in some batting expertise to help squeeze more from his charges.
''Craig did a little bit of work with a couple of the players last season and he is another one with a huge amount of playing experience and he has some coaching experience as well, so it would be silly not to tap into his expertise.''
King has also kept in close contact with former Otago seamer Ian Butler, who is coaching cricket and rugby at a school in Sydney and is also involved in a cricket coaching franchise.
''I do have people in mind but the first thing we need to decide is what the structure is going to be and that is a process we are working through at the moment.''
While King has been with the team three seasons, he has been around the team much longer and has forged some strong relationships.
His new role as boss could put on strain on those connections.
''That is one of the toughest parts of the job. The last thing a coach wants to do is disappoint a player but the reality is I'm in a position where I have to make those decisions.''
King was born in Australia but his parents, who are from Otago, moved back to the province when he was 10.
He went to King's High School and played his club cricket for Albion. King married Abbey King (nee Gillan) last year.
While King has officially been in the role for only a few days, he actually began work before Mascarenhas left for England with the Black Caps.
The pair identified players they wanted to contract.
The first stage of provincial contracts are due to be announced on July 16 and King is ''fairly well down the path''.
''We are looking at a couple of players ... but at the same time they have to be the right people. There is no point recruiting players if they don't bring the right character or are not going to add value in terms of their skillset.''
Nathan King
Volts coach
Age: 33.
Otago: Assistant coach 2012-2015, replaced Dimitri Mascarenhas as coach June 2015.
Otago Sparks: Coach 2010-2012.
Otago Cricket Association: Started as a community cricket co-ordinator November 2004.
