As we continue our mission to bring NIP back to the top of CS, we have some updates regarding our roster and coaching staff. When we committed to this rebuild earlier this year, we knew there would be challenges. Achieving sustainable success would require us to be adaptable and willing to make the necessary changes to stay on course. This is all part of our commitment to building a team that is able to compete at the highest level for years to come.
This rebuild marked a huge change to the way we do things. Not just in the way we build our teams, but also in how we communicate with all of you. We are committed to transparency, providing our fans with a clear and open understanding of the decisions we make and why we make them.
Today, we are announcing that alex has been moved to the bench. We signed alex off the back of an impressive stint at Movistar Riders, proving his ability as a leader and convincing us he was the right person for this project. While we continue to believe he is a great person and leader, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that his IGL profile isn’t the right fit for this new roster. This decision was not made lightly, but we feel it is essential to put the team in the best position as we continue on our mission to make NIP CS legendary again. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to alex for his dedication and contributions to the team. He has been an integral part of our journey, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. We look forward to seeing him succeed on the server.
With that said, we're thrilled to offer Gareth "MisteM" Ries the opportunity to prove himself in the main roster. Gareth has been a key driving force behind Young Ninjas and their success, showing both incredible talent and leadership. He is one of the key pillars of our academy project, and we’re excited to see him bring that same energy and determination to the main team. MisteM embodies the values of NIP, and we are confident that he will thrive as the IGL of our main team.
We're also excited to announce that sprayxd, the main coach for Young Ninjas, will be joining the coaching staff as the assistant coach for our main team. His impact on our academy team has been tremendous, helping to build Young Ninjas into one of the best academy squads in the scene. His expertise and fresh perspective will be a valuable addition as we continue to refine and grow. While slap will step down from his current role as assistant coach, we are excited about what he brings to the team and are in active discussions to find a new role for him at NIP.
These changes reflect our belief in the strength of the NIP Academy project and how it can support the main team in a big way. It’s a process, always has been, and we’re all keen to see what we can achieve in the coming months of relentless practice and grind. Thank you for your continued support — we couldn't do this without you. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build toward a brighter future.
General Manager of NIP CS Division, Björn "THREAT" Pers, has shared more insights on the change and the reasoning behind it: