Jake Middleton enters his third season as the head coach of the esports program heading into the 2024-25 season, overseeing Rocket League, Overwatch, and League of Legends.
Last season (2023-24), the Warriors saw a major improvement from 2022-23 as Middleton led the team to a 23-7 overall record. In Rocket League, Tech would finish in third place at 11-5 during the regular season and earn third place at the WHAC Tournament. In League of Legends, the Warriors would go also finish in third at 5-2 during the regular season, winning the bronze match to finish third at the WHAC Tournament. In Overwatch, tech would go a perfect 7-0 during the regular season, picking up the top seed, but would fall in the WHAC Tournament Championship match to Cleary. Six Warriors would earn WHAC All-Conference honors, one in Rocket League, two in Overwatch, and three in League of Legends, while five would be named to the WHAC All-Academic team. Middleton was named WHAC Coach of the Year for the first time.
In his first year (2022-23), Middleton led the Warriors through a 10-20 season. The Warriors would go 0-16 in Rocket League action, finishing in eighth during the regular season and tournament. Tech would go 6-1 in Overwatch, finishing in second in the regular season and third in the WHAC Tournament. They would also go 4-3 during their League of Legends season, finishing in fourth in the regular season and WHAC Tournament. Four Warriors would earn WHAC All-Conference honors, one in Rocket League, two in Overwatch, and one in League of Legends, while six would be named to the WHAC All-Academic team.
The Kansas City native grew up a lifelong gamer, entering the world of esports in 2005, playing competitive Halo. In 2015, Middleton merged his passions for esports and human performance, becoming an early pioneer in the emerging field of esports performance coaching.
Middleton earned his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from Missouri State University, and received his Master's in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Western States.
Middleton began his esports coaching career working with amateur esports teams in his local area of Kansas City and went on to work with many professional esports organizations around the world. Some organizations include Counter Logic Gaming, Tundra Esports, Houston Outlaws, Method Guild, INTZ, Seattle Surge, Vancouver Titans, FIFA Esports, and much more.
Middleton has experience coaching players and teams in League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota 2, Valorant, CS:GO, Call of Duty, FIFA, World of Warcraft, Super Smash Bros., Rainbow Six: Seige, PubG, Fortnite, and Rocket League.
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