Kyle Murto is in his second season as head coach of the Blinn esports program following four and a half seasons as an assistant with the program.
Murto leads Blinn esports while specifically managing the Buccaneers' Overwatch, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate teams.
In the spring of 2025, Murto was honored as the National Association of College Esports Overwatch Coach of the Year.
Since the esports program's launch in the fall of 2020, Murto has been instrumental in the remarkable success of Blinn's esports program, leading teams to multiple national championship appearances while achieving notable milestones across various gaming titles.
During his time at Blinn, Murto has demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding the Overwatch team to several national championship appearances, securing a national championship appearance for Super Smash Bros, and consistently achieving playoff berths in various other titles. In the spring of 2024, Murto was also a finalist for National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Coach of the Year.
Also during Murto's run as an assistant with Buccaneer esports, Blinn captured three national championships, which include the 2023 (spring) NJCAA Esports Valorant championship, the 2023 (fall) NJCAA Esports Call of Duty championship, and the 2024 (spring) National Esports Collegiate Conference Legends Division Valorant championship.
Murto is also a committee member of the Overwatch Collegiate Ranking Association (OWCRA) and a seeding member for NACE.
Prior to his arrival at Blinn, Murto served as the team captain, starting Jungler, and coach for the League of Legends esports team at West Texas A&M University. As the team captain and volunteer coach, he played a pivotal role in recruitment, tryouts, and skill assessment.
Beyond his competitive esports endeavors, Murto co-founded Buff Gaming, a student-led organization at West Texas A&M aimed at uniting both casual and competitive gamers. He also played a vital role in launching the annual Gaming for St. Jude's charity tournament, featuring League of Legends and Super Smash Bros, which has enjoyed significant success and community involvement.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in history and a minor in political science from West Texas A&M, Murto's strong academic background underscores his dedication to education and his commitment to ensuring his students excel both in and out of the gaming arena. As a former member of Phi Alpha Theta, the historian's honor society, he has a deep appreciation for academic excellence and brings this ethos to his role as an esports coach, prioritizing the well-rounded development of his students.
