Ittetsu Takeda teaches contemporary Japanese literature and serves as faculty advisor for the boys' volleyball club at Karasuno High School. Standing 166.5 cm tall and born on January 10, this 29-year-old possesses a youthful appearance, similar in stature to first-year Shōyō Hinata. His messy black hair, brown eyes, and glasses complete his look; he typically wears a green track jacket over a white shirt and black tie (spotted in manga depictions), with his hair growing longer post-timeskip. Initially lacking volleyball knowledge, Takeda commits fully to supporting the team through logistics and motivation. Characterized by persistent optimism and modesty, he frequently bows to express gratitude or request matches. Though generally polite and cheerful, he becomes intimidating when angered. He takes his roles seriously, delivering inspirational speeches rich with analogies – a habit he worries might confuse the team, though captain Daichi Sawamura dismisses this concern. Aware of his inexperience, he diligently takes notes during matches and learns from players like Kōshi Sugawara explaining rotation rules. His persistence defines his contributions. He arranges Karasuno's first practice match against Aoba Johsai by relentlessly contacting schools, accepting their condition that setter Tobio Kageyama play the entire match. Witnessing Hinata and Kageyama's quick attack, Takeda recognizes their potential to catalyze the team's growth and resolves to find a dedicated coach. This leads him to recruit Keishin Ukai, grandson of former coach Ikkei Ukai, by leveraging a practice match with rival Nekoma High. Despite Ukai initially declining, Takeda persuades him to coach temporarily. Their partnership evolves into collaboration, with Takeda handling administration while Ukai focuses on strategy. Takeda secures further practice matches, including one against Nekoma to revive their historic rivalry, where he and Ukai humorously dub themselves "The Eternal Bench Warming Club." He observes libero Yū Nishinoya's rotations and worries over Hinata's adaptability, receiving encouragement from Nekoma's coach about his persistence. As Karasuno progresses to tournaments like the Interhigh, Takeda aids morale, such as helping display a cleaned team banner. He continues learning volleyball intricacies from Ukai, analyzing tactics like Date Tech's read-blocking or Aoba Johsai's teamwork dynamics. Beyond the main series, Takeda appears in spin-offs and OVAs like "Haikyū!! vs. Akaten." His development culminates in a more assured advisory role, balancing administrative diligence with evolving volleyball insight.