Coach J bares reason for leaving Smart Omega, shares life after coaching stint
Former Smart Omega Call of Duty: Mobile coach Jericho ‘Coach J‘ Ambulo’s leaving his post as the team’s head coach was unforeseen development in the Garena CODM esports scene.
The news about his departure broke out after an official Facebook post by Omega Esports, followed by his own post on his Facebook timeline which surprised the CODM community.
Photo via Omega Esports
Coach J, who manned the ship for Smart Omega for a year, said he was supposed to leave at the end of the year but things happened and it changed his mind. “It was supposed to be at the end of this year [leaving Smart Omega] but I thought about it and decided this was the best time to leave.”
The Smart Omega-Coach J partnership notably produced some of the best days of the team’s CODM journey, including winning back-to-back Garena Masters titles (GM2 and GM3), The Nationals: Philippine Open Season 1, and finishing 5th to 6th place in the CODM World Championship 2022 which was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Coach J steered the team to be at the top of their peak and in turn the Smart Omega reached heights they’ve never seen before.
Photo via Jericho Ambulo
Now, the well-decorated coach leaves the scene brimming with hope and excitement for Smart Omega’s dawning of a new era as well as his own personal growth away from the pro scene.
The reason why he left
“I was really tired already I wanted to stay home be with my family and go back to casting,” Coach J said when asked about the main reason for leaving. “I love the boys and it was arguably one of the toughest decisions I had to do,” he added.
Coach J and Smart Omega (Photo via Jericho Ambulo)
Among the many things he and the team have shared over the past year was being together most of the time in Omega Esports’ boot camp. Coach J shared what the experience was like spending time with them as well as what he considers his biggest achievement and regret while coaching the team.
“The experience was really fun a lot of ups and downs and great times. We would always have a eureka moment (a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds something) where in we found the right formula in the game,” Coach J said.
Coach J and Smart Omega (Photo via Jericho Ambulo)
I can confidently say that my biggest regret during my tenure is none because I gave my all, and all the achievements we had (GM2, GM3, Stage 4, The Nationals and to top it off Stage 5) were all pretty special,” he added.
Finally, he shares his outlook for his former team moving forward as well as his own life outside of coaching.
Coach J with friends (Photo via Jericho Ambulo)
“I think the team [Smart Omega] will still do great things. My brothers [coach Dev1ce and Mori] are still holding it down and all I can say is watch out for them,” Coach J mentioned.
“Now that I am retired from coaching, I will be back to being a shout caster for Garena CODM. I’ll be doing the same routines that I did before I was a coach. Just playing video games, watching esports, hanging out with friends, and enjoying life,” he concluded.
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