Former professional gamer Aaron Kapiko is the first esports coach in Blinn College history and enters his third season with the Buccaneers.

Kapiko earned his coaching certification from the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Science, Technology, and Society from North Carolina State University and his career included two years as a wrestling coach at a high school in Raleigh, N.C.

Kapiko, who began competing in video games at age 14, said the time he spent as a professional gamer “was one of the best experiences I could ask for.”

“I got to travel the world to play and enjoyed all of it. It was certainly a grind at times and a lot of hard work, but I got to have experiences and do things I never would have if not for getting to play Hearthstone at that level,” he said. “It was always a great experience, and I got to play against world championship contenders. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”