Getting Banned from League of Legends Can Boost Your Coaching Career
Being banned from League of Legends is becoming a valuable experience for aspiring esports coaches.
Around two years ago, a player called “XJ9” was banned from League and Twitch for hacking his girlfriend’s account and throwing games on purpose. But that wasn’t the worst part. Shortly after, he posted explicit pictures of her on Facebook because she played his most hated champion, Lee Sin.
Now, XJ9 is entering the esports scene as the jungle coach for Supa Hot Crew. He has a deep understanding of the jungle in League, pioneering the farm heavy style that William “Meteos” Hartman used to dominate the LCS last year. However, is it appropriate for a professional team to hire someone who publicly shared graphic pictures of another person without their consent less than two years ago?
There is already a precedent for professional teams hiring banned players. SK Gaming coach Nicolaj “Incarnati0n” Jensen has a lifetime ban from League for “DDOS activity, abusive behavior and poor sportsmanship.” Yet, he has proven to be an invaluable resource to the team, especially for young mid laner Jesse “Jes1z” Le. It is worth mentioning that any poor sportsmanship from Jensen would surely be overshadowed by XJ9’s actions.
Supa Hot Crew has previously employed coaches with troubled pasts. Coach Nick “Lastshadow” de Cesare participated in map rigging in StarCraft eight years ago. However, de Cesare has worked to rebuild his reputation and believes the same can happen for XJ9.
According to de Cesare, XJ9’s past actions were committed when he was 16 years old, and now at 18, he should be given a clean slate. However, it is important to note that revenge porn is illegal in eleven states.
De Cesare acknowledges that XJ9’s past behavior was immature and inexcusable. However, he believes that XJ9 is a positive force for the team and in the competitive esports world, results are what ultimately matter. Just like in the NFL, players who commit serious offenses can still be forgiven if they perform well on the field.
De Cesare also acknowledges that XJ9 is still young and prone to making mistakes. He believes that XJ9 has the right to learn and grow from these mistakes before entering the real world as an adult.
Image via Riot Games
banned players, esports coaching, League of Legends, Supa Hot Crew, XJ9, professional teams, troubled past coaches.