Sentinels part ways with head coach Kaplan, Ewok steps in

After a rocky start to the 2026 VALORANT season, Sentinels have announced the departure of Head Coach Adam "kaplan" Kaplan. In his place, the organization has signed former Rex Regum Qeon coach Martin "Ewok" Ewok, hoping to reinvigorate the team ahead of the upcoming VCT Americas Split.

From Assistant to Masters Winner

Kaplan first joined Sentinels in 2023 as the assistant coach under SykkoNT. The team struggled that year, prompting mid-season changes that placed Kaplan in charge. Despite a rough start, his leadership helped steer the roster toward success, culminating in a VCT 2024 - Masters Madrid victory in 2024, securing their second international title.

Although Sentinels missed the following Masters event, they maintained competitive form throughout 2024, securing a fourth-place finish at VCT 2024 - Champions 2024. Kaplan’s structured approach and confidence in player development appeared to have restored faith in the Sentinels project—at least for a while.

Decline in 2025 and Roster Turmoil

The 2025 season brought sweeping changes as Tyson "TenZ" Ngo and Gustavo "Sacy" Rossi, two pillars of the Madrid championship squad, retired. New additions Sean "bang" Bezerra and Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey filled those gaps, but the chemistry never fully clicked. Sentinels performed well domestically, finishing on the podium in every VCT Americas event. Yet they failed to translate this onto the international stage.

Their struggles peaked at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions, where they exited in the group stage after losses to XLG Esports and GIANTX. Despite solid regional results, expectations were much higher for one of VALORANT’s most storied teams. The organization began reassessing its direction and leadership.

Heading into 2026, Sentinels made another round of changes, letting go of Bang, Jordan "Zellsis" Montemurro, and Zachary "zekken" Patrone while adding young talents Yassine "Reduxx" Aboulalazm, Mirel "Kyu" Braco Hrustemovic, and Gabriel Araujo "cortezia" Lobo Cortez. The new lineup showed early promise, but their 1-3 exit at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Kickoff was the final straw.

Reasons for the Departure

Sentinels CEO Rob Moore cited both results and culture as reasons for Kaplan’s departure.

“We don't make decisions like this lightly, but we also don't believe in waiting when it is clear we are on the wrong path. What we saw at Kickoff wasn't just a results issue; the team wasn't developing the chemistry we needed. Rather than let that continue. We're making changes now to give ourselves the best chance to qualify for Champs 2026.”

Moore also shared on Tarik’s stream that Kaplan’s approach contributed to Zekken’s departure and Mohamed Amine "Johnqt" Ouarid’s controversial role switch prior to the season. According to Moore, the move to part ways with Kaplan was about acting early rather than letting further issues develop mid-season.

Ewok Takes Over as Head Coach

To fill the coaching vacancy, Sentinels have signed Ewok, who comes from a successful stint with RRQ in the Pacific region. Ewok guided RRQ to the ZABB win and secure a berth at Champions Paris.

Rob Moore highlighted Ewok’s proven track record in building winning VCT rosters, noting his structured approach and emphasis on long-term team development.

The challenge ahead won’t be easy. The VCT Americas region, featuring powerhouses like G2 Esports, MIBR, and now even FURIA, demands rapid adaptation and consistency. But if Ewok can establish the same disciplined foundation that elevated RRQ, Sentinels may yet reclaim their spot among VALORANT’s elite teams.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games