Tim Nielsen, head Overwatch coach of Waynesburg University Esports was hired back in August of last year as a graduate assistant of the program. Nielsen captained the Waldorf University Overwatch team for three seasons in college before accepting the position at Waynesburg, over 900 miles away.

“His idea after a loss is to have the memory of a goldfish. It is to not dwell on it and be discouraged from playing future tough opponents, but to learn from it,” senior Felicia Duffy said. “He knows a lot.”

At Waldorf, he took his team to two conference finals appearances and led his squad to a first place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational in Waterloo, Iowa. His team finished in 20that the 2023 Division I Esports Collegiate National Tournament.

But Nielsen’s ability to coach was what he picked up on in college.

“During my time at Waldorf University my biggest strength was the ability and willingness to ask questions to my teammates to work things out,” Nielsen said. “My questions to the team as a captain start with understanding the individuals on the team first, then working forward, asking questions has been vital for me.”

Nielsen the coach, however, is the skill-minded individual that can keep a locker room together in times of triumph, and sorrow.

“Coach Tim always has a calming and encouraging presence anywhere he goes, anytime I would talk to him he’s always there to listen,” sophomore Jackson Medvec said. “After a loss he would always tell us to keep our heads held high and there was always next week.”

Fundamentals are a thing so key in helping the younger athletes involved on the roster. Out of the nine players on the roster this season, five are freshmen.

“Coach Tim has a very strong understanding of the game. He focuses on fundamentals like positioning and how you use cool downs rather than things like aim,” Freshmen Caitlyn Nguyen said. “He also explains everything well in great detail and tells us what specifically we can do to get better.”

Tim preaching fundamentals is a massive strength in his coaching ability, but patience is the best trait he provides for the younger players on the roster.

“His biggest strength I observe is patience, even when we’re badly losing, he’s encouraging us and reminding us to do what we know as way to reset and ground,” freshman Jack Hood said. “He understands the mood isn’t great and goes easy on us after a loss.”

This coaching style is felt throughout the locker room, even up to the senior leaders like Felicia Duffy.

“He has bi-weekly one on one sessions with each athlete. That time is spent doing personalized training, I think it’s very helpful,” Duffy said. “He often makes playing feel less like I am the student below the teacher, but rather we are all trying to learn and get better together.”

This skillset allows every single player in his locker room to buy in and understand what it takes to be a champion.

“I think Tim’s guidance through his gaming expertise has helped me immensely,” Medvec said. “I was in the lowest tier of that game when I switched roles and through his teachings, I climbed the ranks, I play a lot better than I did before I got here.”

Even after hoisting a National Esports Collegiate Conference National Championship Trophy in the first season as a head coach for a college program the focus on teaching his players as people and not as a roster spot on a depth chart is what shines the brightest about Tim.

“I owe coach Tim so much that I wouldn’t be able to repay him. Both for game knowledge and real-world problems that I have had,” Medvec said. “Tim is more than a coach, he is a friend that I look up to, he has my utmost respect.”

Coach Tim Nielsen is looking for another successful season and possibly going to become the first sport in school history to be back-to-back National Champions.