Cloud9 Parts Ways with Head Coach, Matthew “mCe” Elmore
Cloud9, one of the top regional teams in VALORANT, is undergoing significant changes in the off-season. One of the biggest changes is the departure of their head coach, Matthew “mCe” Elmore, who has left the organization on September 10, 2023, opening up opportunities for him to explore other coaching roles in the 2024 season. This news comes as a surprise since mCe played a crucial role in helping C9 recover from early season trades and bringing in franchise rookies that contributed to the team’s fourth-place finish in the league.
A Surprising Departure
When the 2023 season started, Cloud9 appeared to be a superteam with high-profile free agent signings. However, they faced some challenges, including the unexpected departures of players yay and vanity. Despite these setbacks, mCe, who had previously led The Guard to the number one spot in NA, picked up jakee and runi as replacements. Under mCe’s leadership, Cloud9 made a comeback and achieved significant victories, restoring the faith of fans who were concerned about the team’s early struggles. However, they ultimately fell short of qualifying for Masters Tokyo and Champions 2023, losing to lower-ranked teams like KRÜ Esports and Leviatán.
The Decision to Part Ways
Cloud9 found themselves in a difficult situation, having experienced both the positive impact mCe had at the beginning of the year and the disappointing end to the season. Following the departures of Zellsis and runi, mCe announced his departure from the organization. He also expressed interest in exploring assistant or collegiate coaching roles. However, with the unpredictable nature of roster changes in the Americas heading into 2024, it remains to be seen where mCe will end up.
A Reunion on the Horizon?
Interestingly, the core group of players that mCe worked with at The Guard are now entering the franchised league for 2024. Their previous coach, Josh “JoshRT” Lee, was also released as the team searches for a new organization to join the Americas league with. It may be a late development, but the possibility of mCe reuniting with his former players, who were instrumental in his success as a head coach, seems like a perfect fit.
Cloud9, VALORANT, head coach, roster changes, surprising departure, comeback, coaching opportunities, Americas league, reunion