Image source: InvenGlobal
Fans of League of Legends (LoL) esports around the world were shocked this weekend by the news that Cloud9 had released their head coach Nick ‘LS’ De Cesare.
The well-known coach and LoL personality tweeted saying that he only found out he was being released a few hours before Cloud9’s public announcement:
He had won three out of four matches in the first two weeks of the North American LCS Spring 2022 Season with Cloud9, and has now just been replaced by Max Waldo.
LS added: “I set out to show some things were possible (gameplay/draft etc) and in that short time I believe we were able to show a glimpse of it. Even though the journey ends, I still feel satisfied that the team and players were able to showcase what we had, and knowing a lot more was possible.
“The players and staff are all exceptional and I have no doubt they can achieve great things. I genuinely hope nothing but the best for them and hope they find success. Lots of people reaching out about my mental health, it’s totally fine. I’ve had a great support system of friends, mentors and confidants. I’m as surprised as everyone else given everything.”
LS later added in a stream that he will not be coaching in an official capacity [with a team] again.
The reason for LS’ release from the LCS team was not initially clear, but C9 provided a statement a few days after his release.
Cloud9 CEO Jack Etienne said: “Cloud9 for years has developed systems in how we like to coach and operate our team. Despite our best efforts working with LS to try to come to terms and see eye to eye on how that should work, we were unable to actually make that happen. We were unable to find a resolution to this problem.
“We decided that it was important we make a change and release LS at that point so we could move forward and focus on the future. We know the timing of the decision wasn’t ideal, we would’ve loved to have had more time.
“We want to recognise and thank LS for helping us create the roster and the staff we have today, and want to recognise the incredible intelligence and strategic mind that he brought to Cloud9.”
Before Cloud9 published their video above, we rounded up some of the initial reaction from the community, particularly those in the UK & Nordics LoL scene (which we focus on here at Esports News UK).
‘What in the world has happened here?’ – reaction to LS’ release from Cloud9
Caedrel, Guldborg, Vedius, Jamada, Meg Kay, Veigarv2 and more reacted to the news on Twitter:
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
