Cloud9 Parts Ways with Head Coach mCe Ahead of VALORANT Season

Valorant

12 Sep

Kaustavmani Choudhury

In the midst of the VALORANT offseason, where roster changes are the norm, Cloud9, one of the top regional teams, is undergoing significant transformations. A notable move by the organization is parting ways with their head coach, Matthew “mCe” Elmore. Which has taken the esports community by surprise. This decision marks a significant development in the Cloud9 VALORANT saga, as mCe played a pivotal role in stabilizing the team during the 2023 season.

A Season of Ups and Downs

At the start of the 2023 season, Cloud9 seemed poised to become a VALORANT superteam with high-profile signings, including Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro and Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker. Matthew “mCe” Elmore was brought in as the head coach following a successful 2022 season with The Guard, where he led the team to the number one spot in NA. Despite a tumultuous beginning that saw yay and Anthony “vanity” Malaspina departing unexpectedly, mCe worked diligently to recruit Jake “jakee” Anderson and Dylan “runi” Cade as replacements.

Under mCe's guidance, Cloud9's underrated roster started achieving impressive victories regionally, gradually regaining the respect of fans who had concerns about the team's early-season struggles. However, as the season progressed, Cloud9 faced challenges in qualifying for Masters Tokyo and Champions 2023, suffering losses to lower-ranked teams like KRÜ Esports and Leviatán. The season ultimately concluded on a sour note, leading to tough decisions for the organization.

A Farewell to mCe and Future Prospects

With Cloud9 at a crossroads, the organization evaluated both mCe's early-season impact and the team's late-season setbacks. Consequently, they made the decision to part ways with mCe, who promptly announced his departure from the organization. This departure followed the free agency status of Zellsis and runi. MCe expressed his openness to exploring various coaching opportunities for the 2024 season. Including both head coach and assistant coach positions. As well as potential collegiate coaching roles. As the VALORANT rostermania for the Americas region intensifies, mCe's future remains uncertain, but one intriguing possibility emerges.

A Reunion in the Making?

Coincidentally, the core of players that mCe previously coached is making their way into the franchised league for the 2024 season. They had their own coach in Josh “JoshRT” Lee. But mCe, along with the rest of the squad, was released. As they sought a new organization to join in the Americas league. The idea of mCe reuniting with his former players, who played a significant role in his rise as a head coach, seems like a compelling narrative that VALORANT fans will be closely watching.

Cloud9's 2024 VALORANT Roster: Shifting Sands

As the dust settles on Cloud9's 2024 VALORANT roster, several significant changes have been reported. The organization has secured deals with Anthony “vanity” Malaspina, who returns to the team. And former G2 breakout star Francis “OXY” Hoang. The roster will also retain Erick “Xeppaa” Bach and standout controller player Jake “jakee” Anderson. Notably, there has been no mention of the team's current primary Jett star, Nathan “leaf” Orf, and his status remains uncertain.

While leaf is officially listed on Cloud9's roster through 2025 in the Global Contract Database, the ever-evolving landscape of professional VALORANT may bring surprises. OXY's agent pool primarily consists of Raze and Jett, fueling speculation about leaf's future with Cloud9.

Conclusion: Cloud9's VALORANT Roster Evolution Continues