Pacman rejoins Rise Nation as CoD team coach

Veteran Call of Duty pro Jonathan “Pacman” Tucker has returned to Rise Nation, not as a player, but as a coach and manager for their CoD team.

Having played competitively since Call of Duty 2, Pacman is one of the longest serving members of the competitive CoD scene. Pacman’s first tournament win dates all the way back to November 2008 at the MLG National Championship. Competing with Joey “Moho” Morehouse, Robert “ASSASS1N” Walsh, and “Choppy” under Team FeaR, Pacman and crew took home the $8,000 grand prize. Unfortunately, Pacman’s first tournament win would also be his last.

Team FeaR circa 2008. From left to right: Moho, ASSASS1N, Choppy, Pacman.

Ghosts and Advanced Warfare

During his time on Rise Nation during Ghosts and Advanced Warfare, Pacman, along with longtime teammate Jamal “Whea7s” Lee, experienced mixed success. They competed with notable players such as Damod “FEARS” Abney, future CoD World Champion Dillon “Attach” Price, and current Rise Nation captain Daniel “Loony” Loza.

Rise placed 7^th at the 2014 CoD Championship, 2^nd at the 2014 MLG CoD League Season Three Playoffs, and 7^th -8^th at the 2015 MLG Pro League Season One Playoffs with Pacman on the roster.

Black Ops 3 and beyond

Pacman was at the helm of Team SoloMid’s short-lived Call of Duty experiment during Black Ops 3. Again teaming with Whea7s, Pacman and TSM qualified for the 2016 NA CWL Stage One Regular Season with Andrew “Ivy” Ivers and Cole “ColeChan” Chancey.

This combination of new talent and veteran leadership looked promising on paper. Though the team was able to qualify, they weren’t able to break into the upper echelon of their fellow North American competitors and struggled throughout much of Stage One. Pacman ultimately finished Black Ops 3 with a 17th-24^th placing at CoD Champs with eUnited, at the time featuring Whea7s, Ivy, and Lamar “Accuracy” Abedi.

After a shaky start to Infinite Warfare with eUnited and failing to qualify for Stage One of the CWL Global Pro League without a sponsored team, Pacman now leaves his playing career behind to take on a coaching role for Rise Nation’s squad.

TSM’s CoD endeavor only lasted one Season.

A Rise Nation team with a lot to prove

Pacman will now join former teammate Loony, Tyler “FeLony” Johnson, Brice “Faccento” Faccento, and Ulysses “Aqua” Silva in a team that many believe may be in trouble heading into Stage One.

The team, consisting of most of the old Elevate roster from Black Ops 3, won MLG Las Vegas, the first major tournament in Infinite Warfare. However, Rise Nation has yet to claim another victory and has become one of the most inconsistent teams to qualify for Stage One.

Rise went on to place 9^th – 12^th at CWL Atlanta, 3^rd at ESWC Paris, and an abysmal 17^th -20^th at CWL Dallas, after starting in Pool Play. Rise Nation now enters Stage One as the 6^th seeded team in North America, having started the year in 1^st. Pacman’s veteran experience and leadership should help this team become consistent as they look to regain form in the following weeks.

Rise Nation will soon face-off against FaZe Clan, Fnatic, and Evil Geniuses in Group Blue in the Global Pro League taking place April 28^th – 30^th.

This could possibly signal the end of Pacman’s career as a competitor, but at the same time could signal the beginning of a blossoming career as a team manager and coach. However, with rumors circulating that Call of Duty will be returning to “boots on the ground” this year, the future for many veteran pros is uncertain.

Jack Waters is an avid Call of Duty Esports fan and wants to hear from YOU! Find him on Twitter.

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