Phantom Esports have announced the appointment of Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt as head coach of their main CS2 roster. For the 32-year-old Frenchman, this marks a new chapter in his career: after 17 years on the professional scene and a transition into coaching, he will lead a team independently for the first time.
NBK- takes charge of Phantom
NBK- replaces Dawid “lunAtic” Cieślak, who left Phantom back in September. The Frenchman had already gained his first experience working outside the server: after ending his time with GenOne in February 2026, he joined 3DMAX as an assistant coach.
Now NBK- will take on significantly more responsibility. At Phantom, he will directly lead the team and work with a mixed Danish-Polish roster that is aiming to climb higher in the world rankings.
Phantom are betting on experience
The organization explained its decision to sign NBK- by highlighting his extensive experience, winning mentality, and understanding of the game. Phantom believe he is exactly the kind of specialist the team needed for its next stage of development.
His experience, winning mentality, and perspective on the game are exactly what we were looking for as we build the next stage of our project. Now it’s time to get to work.
For Phantom, this is more than simply signing a well-known name. NBK- has experience competing at the highest level across several generations of Counter-Strike, and the organization hopes to make use of his knowledge in this new role.
17 years on the professional scene
NBK-‘s playing career lasted around 17 years and spanned different versions of Counter-Strike. During that time, the Frenchman won numerous prestigious tournaments, appeared three times on the list of the year’s best players, and became a two-time Major champion.
This experience is now expected to form the foundation of his coaching approach. NBK- is familiar with the pressure of major tournaments, working in international rosters, and the demands placed on teams aiming to compete at the highest level.
First independent coaching project
His work at Phantom will be NBK-‘s first full-time position as head coach. Previously, he had only begun transitioning from his playing career into coaching, working as an assistant at 3DMAX.
Now the Frenchman will be able to shape the team’s approach to preparation, tactics, and roster development himself. For NBK-, this is also an opportunity to see how effectively his many years of playing experience can translate into working on the other side of the competitive scene.
Phantom are looking to take the next step
Phantom recently reached the top four at CCT Europe Series 12 and climbed to 55th place in the Global VRS in mid-October. The team are still far from establishing a consistent presence among the world’s strongest rosters, but they already have a foundation on which to build further progress.
Their next major objective will be to improve their ranking position and put themselves in contention for a Major spot during the next qualification cycle. This is where NBK-‘s experience could become one of Phantom’s most valuable assets.
Phantom roster
Alongside NBK-, Phantom will continue to field TMB, nicoodoz, KEi, Kylar, and Kunai. The Frenchman will therefore inherit a roster of Danish and Polish players, including several who already have experience competing at a high level.
For NBK-, this marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter in his career. After winning two Major titles and spending many years competing as a player, he will now attempt to build a competitive team as a head coach.
