Coach Weiss

My name is Robert Weiss, and I am an esports educator, coach, and program coordinator at Old Bridge High School—proudly teaching and coaching at my alma mater, where I graduated as a member of the Class of 2009. In addition to leading the esports program, I am also a secondary education history teacher, teaching courses such as U.S. History, Sociology, and related social studies subjects. My background in the classroom plays a major role in how I approach coaching, leadership, and student development.

My competitive gaming experience began long before scholastic esports existed in its current form. In high school and early college, I competed in Super Smash Bros. Melee and online Team Fortress 2 leagues, gaining early exposure to organized competition, team strategy, and high-level play, while competing in wrestling and other sports. These experiences helped shape my understanding of competitive environments and continue to influence how I teach teamwork and accountability today.

Before helping build the esports program at Old Bridge High School, I spent nearly a decade coaching traditional athletics, serving as a wrestling and volleyball coach from 2014 to 2022. During that time, I developed a coaching philosophy rooted in discipline, preparation, and culture—principles that seamlessly transferred into esports when the opportunity arose to help establish the program at OBHS.

Today, I have helped build and now lead a comprehensive scholastic esports program at Old Bridge High School. In addition to coaching competitive teams, I serve as the esports teacher, instructing multiple levels of esports courses that cover competitive play, content creation, broadcasting, event production, and career pathways within the esports industry. The program is designed to support both competitive student-athletes and students interested in the technical, creative, and leadership roles that power esports behind the scenes.

As a coach, I have led Valorant and Overwatch teams to the New Jersey GSE Group 4 State Finals, earning second-place finishes at the state level. My specialty titles are Super Smash Bros. and Overwatch 2. I am a R.O.B. main in Smash (with a Melee background playing Marth) and an Ana support main in Overwatch 2. This hands-on competitive experience allows me to coach with a deep understanding of both individual skill development and team-based strategy.

What sets my approach apart is the combination of classroom teaching, traditional athletics coaching, and high-level competitive gaming experience. I emphasize team discipline, culture, communication, and commitment, preparing students not just to compete, but to represent their school and teammates with professionalism. My goal is to help students grow as competitors, creators, and leaders—equipped with skills that extend well beyond the game.