JERSEY CITY, N.J. — After yet another successful season in the program's short history in 2023-24, during which the New Jersey City University ESports program captured another championship, as well as another trip to Nationals, NJCU's Director of Athletics, Robert Cole, has officially announced today, Wednesday, Aug. 28, that ToniAnn Convertino will take over the reigns as the second head coach in the program's history.

"Toni came to our already-high performing program as the top assistant last season and immediately made an impact, specifically leading Valorant to a conference championship," said Cole. "That accomplishment, combined with her existing relationships with our current student-athletes, her previous experience as a collegiate ESports coach and her overall well-respected reputation within the industry ideally suits her as the obvious choice to become NJCU's next ESports head coach."

The squad's top assistant last season, she helped guide the Valorant team to the Contender Division Championship in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in the Fall of 2023. Convertino also led her squad to a Contender ESports Valorant Tournament title in the Spring 2024 season. 

"With my experience starting at Caldwell University, I am excited to start my journey at NJCU," said Convertino. "As NJCU's head Valorant coach for the past year, we have placed ourselves in the second-highest division and I know as a whole program, we can achieve more victories in the future. I am going to challenge the students in the program to push themselves to reach their goals. I will be there to support them. I am very grateful to NJCU's athletic department for giving me this opportunity to be their head ESports coach. Excited for the upcoming season. Go Knights!"

Convertino joined the NJCU ESports program as the top assistant coach, heading up the Valorant team specifically, prior to the 2023-24 campaign. In addition to her role with the Gothic Knights, Convertino also serves as an operations manager with ESPORTSU, a division of Collegiate Sports Management Group. She works with over 3,000 institutions from the high school and collegiate levels. She also serves in a key role with the Collegiate ESports Commissioner's Cup (CECC) regional and national events. Additionally, Convertino works in event marketing with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS) on a part-time basis.

Previously, Convertino served as the Head ESports Coach at nearby Caldwell University from 2019-23, managing their four programs — Valorant, Overwatch, Rocket League and League of Legends. Simultaneously, she earned her Master's in Business Administration and Management from Caldwell in 2022 and, before that, graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in sports management in 2019. While an undergraduate at Caldwell, she was a member of the Cougars' Division II track & field program, where she was a thrower, competing primarily in javelin and discus.

Convertino resides in her native North Haledon, N.J., and was a 2015 graduate of Manchester Township High School.