TL;DR
- LS announced on Twitch he will never coach another professional team officially
- His coaching career included controversial stints with T1 and brief Cloud9 leadership
- Korean fan backlash over sexual orientation and outsider status impacted T1 opportunity
- Cloud9 departure followed internal disputes with undisclosed specifics
- LS will continue individual player coaching while focusing on content creation
The esports community was stunned when Nick “LS” DeCesare abruptly exited his head coach position with Cloud9’s LCS squad. Supporters immediately questioned whether they’d witness his strategic insights guiding professional teams in future competitions.
Following just weeks of stateside commitment to mentor the newly formed lineup, Cloud9 terminated LS’s contract during the third competitive week. Devotees expressed profound disappointment seeing the influential analyst depart so rapidly, raising concerns about coaching stability in elite League of Legends.
During a recent broadcast from Korea, LS provided candid reflections about his Cloud9 experience and clarified his professional trajectory moving forward.
In his streaming revelation, LS emphasized the extreme improbability of him ever accepting another official coaching role with professional organizations. His journey through elite esports coaching has been marked by consistent tension and psychological strain. The previous year presented an opportunity to lead legendary organization T1, but this was derailed by immediate toxic reactions from segments of the Korean community, targeting LS for his sexual identity and perceived outsider status within their regional ecosystem.
Cool thing by everything past few months is I feel a 'third wind' for LoL again. I'm excited to see how long this one runs and I'm going to intentionally manage it better. Just love the game again.
— LS (@LSXYZ9) February 22, 2022
While LS’s ambitions to guide T1’s LCK squad remained unrealized, the selection itself by esports’ most historically significant franchise dramatically elevated his profile across global competitive scenes.
During the 2022 preseason, Cloud9 pursued the prominent streamer and analyst for their North American roster. The organization already employed two strategic coaches—Max Waldo and Veigar V2—originally recruited through LS’s professional network. Despite appearing ideally suited organizationally, the collaboration rapidly deteriorated due to internal philosophical disagreements that neither LS nor Cloud9 management have detailed publicly.
LS confirms he’ll maintain individual player development through personalized coaching sessions but has permanently abandoned aspirations for formal head coaching positions. He anticipates his Cloud9 tenure might bolster credibility for his game analysis perspectives among the community, yet demonstrates no urgency about re-entering organizational coaching structures in coming competitive cycles.
Career Transition Insights: Moving from organizational leadership to individual coaching represents a strategic shift many esports professionals undertake. This approach allows maintaining competitive involvement while avoiding bureaucratic challenges that often accompany team management roles.
Content Creation Focus: With reduced coaching obligations, LS can dedicate more energy to streaming, educational content, and analytical deep dives that have consistently attracted substantial viewership.
Action Checklist
- Review LS’s strategic analysis content to understand his coaching philosophy
- Analyze Cloud9’s 2022 roster decisions and coaching structure changes
- Study T1’s organizational history to contextualize LS’s missed opportunity
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