Hired in the Spring of 2020 as the Head Esports Coach, Kaitlin Teniente enters her fifth year as the Director of Esports at St. Mary's University in 2024-25.
The Rattlers, behind the leadership of Teniente, have been an annual national contender in Rainbow Six Siege and have reached the postseason in several other games, including Call of Duty, Fortnite, Rocket League and Valorant.
The 2023-24 team saw the Fall Rainbow Six Siege team reach the third-place match, while Call of Duty and Valorant both reached the round of 16. The Fortnite duo of Omari Kimbrough and Kevin Alforo competed in the Grandfinals, finishing 12th. In the Spring, Rainbow Six Siege again reached the third-place match and Carolina Pinales reached the Grandfinals in Fortnite.
Teniente is a nationally renowned speaker in the Esports world and was recently named to the VOICE Board of Directors, helping shape the future of collegiate Esports. She has also served on the group’s Directors Advisory Council and speaks from coast to coast on the involvement of women in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
The 2022-23 teams set the bar for excellence high at St. Mary’s as both the Rainbow Six Siege and Halo teams were National Runners Up, and the duo of Alexandra Mancillas and Ana Loza reached the Grandfinals in Fortnite.
During her first year at the University, Teniente developed and coached the four varsity esports teams (Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rainbow 6 Siege) in addition to developing the student talent of the Esports Broadcast team. In the inaugural season of the esports program, she coached her teams to multiple playoffs runs and $825 in tournament prizes. Teniente and her staff raised $3,400 for Esports scholarships during the virtual grand opening of the Spectrum Esports Arena, a fundraising event affectionately known as the Esports FANGraiser.
She is the first female head coach of a varsity esports program in Texas, and one of less than 10 female head coaches or directors of esports in the United States. As a Hispanic woman, she hopes to inspire future generations of women and minorities to be involved in esports and will continue to build opportunities for students to do so.
Her interest in Esports started at the University of Texas at San Antonio where she and a friend ran Esports events. Prior to joining Rattler Athletics, Teniente worked in the Esports industry for five years, with previous positions held at Wizards of the Coast, Collegiate Starleague and Super League Gaming.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Teniente has been a lifelong gamer.
