OpTic Gaming LA part ways with coach Pacman following CDL Florida run

Brad Norton

OpTic Gaming Los Angeles (OGLA) has parted ways with head coach Jonathan ‘Pacman’ Tucker following a major roster shuffle and a second-place finish at the CDL Florida Home Series.

With Jordan ‘JKap’ Kaplan rotated out of OGLA’s starting roster and Martin ‘Chino’ Chino stepping up, the team recorded its best placement to date last weekend. The May 8 to May 10 Florida Home Series saw the previously struggling squad emerge with a second-place finish.

Despite the drastic shakeup and subsequent results, the CDL organization has bid farewell to its first and only coach in Pacman.

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Former pro player turned broadcast talent, Pacman was announced as OpTic’s head coach on January 8. Just four months later, his tenure has come to an end.

“I am no longer a part of OpTic Gaming,” he revealed in a May 11 tweet. “I will miss being with the team on a daily basis but my time here has come to an end.”

While a plethora of CoD veterans and industry icons replied to his announcement, many of OpTic’s players have yet to comment on the departure.

Kenny ‘Kuavo’ Williams responded to Pacman’s post simply wishing him luck. For the time being, there’s no telling who may fill his shoes as OpTic proceeds forward without a coach.

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As for what comes next, Pacman assured fans that he’ll be sticking around the competitive Call of Duty scene.

“I have spent the last decade of my life in call of duty and will be looking for the next opportunity that arises for me in cod esports.”

Perhaps another team could benefit from his coaching experience, or maybe we’ll even see him back on the broadcast desk as an analyst. Only time will tell where he may end up.

2019-07-19 – CWL Miami / Photo: Robert Paul for Activision Blizzard

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On the back of an impressive showing at the Florida Home Series, OGLA currently sits in seventh place overall in the CDL standings.

The team is scheduled to compete at the upcoming Seattle event on May 22 where they will first square off with the Minnesota Rokkr.

About The Author

Brad Norton is the Australian Managing Editor at Dexerto. He graduated from Swinburne University with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and has been working full-time in the field for the past six years at the likes of Gamurs Group and now Dexerto. He loves all things single-player gaming (with Uncharted a personal favorite) but has a history on the competitive side having previously run Oceanic esports org Mindfreak. You can contact Brad at brad.norton@dexerto.com