Kyle Murto (he/him) is the head esports coach at Blinn College. Before taking on this role, Murto served as the assistant coach and has been with Blinn since the college launched its esports program in 2020.

“My goal is to continue growing the program, increasing community involvement, and ensuring Blinn remains a powerhouse in collegiate esports,” said Murto.

Murto’s journey into esports is unique. He was approached in a hallway by a stranger while discussing League of Legends. Within a week, Murto was the highest-ranked player on his campus. He quickly became the starting jungler, then the team captain, and soon after, the head coach. The rest is history.

Murto was born to compete. He played soccer for a large majority of his life until career-ending lung surgeries in high school. Esports gave him another way to fulfill that competitive drive. He later co-founded the esports club at his college, which eventually became a full-fledged varsity sport after he graduated. Seeing how competitive gaming impacted students fueled his passion for growing the esports community.

Murto said the best part of his job is watching his players grow both in-game and personally. "Watching them improve, succeed, and move on to bigger opportunities makes all the long hours worth it," he said.

“As for challenges, retention is a big one. Since Blinn is a two-year school, we don’t have the luxury of keeping students for four years like many other programs. It’s a revolving door at times, especially with our reliance on walk-ons. Building consistency and long-term program growth while dealing with this cycle can be tough,” said Murto.

“I think the NJCAAE is very well-run. It’s great to have an organization like the NJCAA backing esports. They run a tight ship, enforce eligibility standards, and create a good competitive environment for two-year schools. Their communication with the community is often appreciated, which isn’t always the case with other collegiate leagues.”

Murto’s advice for those pursuing a career in esports is simple: network. He explained how with any job, getting into esports is often about who you know rather than just experience alone. Previously he had been passed up for roles because someone else was an alumnus or had a prior connection. 

He encourages those interested in the space to go to conventions, meet-and-greets, and develop a social network. Murto says the key in this industry is to put yourself out there while also developing key skills in coaching, streaming/production, social media, and software like Excel and Microsoft Word.

“Esports coaches are often expected to be more than just coaches, we handle streaming, marketing, and program operations too. Being multifaceted makes you stand out. Learn everything you can,” Murto said.