Players on Lebanon Valley College's Esports Valorant team will learn this year from a player who literally sat in their gaming chair not long ago.
 
Robbie Bonnaci '23, a three-year player and two-time captain, takes the reins as the first-ever Valorant coach for LVC Esports. Bonnaci stepped into his role when he returned to campus to work in the College's Office of Information Technology.
 
"Becoming the Valorant Coach is something I expected when I came back to LVC, as I have the most knowledge of the game from a staff and player perspective," said Bonnaci, who earned a bachelor's degree in Digital Communications. "It shows we are moving toward having more game-specific expertise on our coaching staff to help our players get to that next level of play."
 
Bonnaci, who chose LVC partly because of the Esports team, shared his most memorable times traveling to tournaments at Rutgers University, Kutztown University, and Harrisburg University, and others. As a player, he also competed in Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Rocket League.
 
"The environment, competition, and excitement of these events are some of my favorite memories," Bonnaci said. "Also, in my final season, we competed in the highest division of the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and reached Nationals. We ended up losing in the quarterfinals, but the fact that we made it was incredible."
 
Now, as a coach, Bonnaci wants to help his team become accustomed to playing at a higher level and set the squad up for future success. 
 
"My goal during this rebuilding year is for the Valorant team's high-level players to get experience competing at the collegiate level and to raise the skill level of players who are a little less familiar with the game," Bonnaci said. "I want to work with the team to get them into a routine with practices, scrimmages, and matches. This consistency will ensure a structure is in place as the team grows."
 
Bonnaci said players of all skill levels are welcome to join LVC's Esports team and believes that participation in Esports could open doors for student-athletes in their careers after graduation. 

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