After four transformative seasons at the helm of the Atlanta Hustle, Head Coach Tuba Benson-Jaja is stepping away. His departure marks the end of a historic chapter for our franchise—and the beginning of a legacy that will echo through Atlanta Ultimate for years to come.

A successful Savannah-area entrepreneur, business owner, and devoted family man, Tuba coached out of a pure love for the game and a deep desire to empower the next generation. In doing so, he did far more than just coach a professional frisbee team; he proved himself to be one of the premier program builders in Ultimate history, having lifted both the Jacksonville Cannons and the Atlanta Hustle into championship-level contenders.

Every team Coach Tuba took the field with shared an unmistakable identity. Known throughout the league for their size, speed, athleticism, and intense play, his rosters reflected his own fierce spirit.

Behind his core pillars of personal growth, gratitude, and grace, Coach Tuba fundamentally shifted the Hustle's identity. A masterfully charismatic and motivational speaker, Tuba had a rare gift for commanding a room, inspiring belief, and setting exceptionally high standards. Drawing on his experience as a business owner, he installed a professional, corporate approach to team organization. He consistently pushed his players far outside their comfort zones, demanding that athletic talent be backed by accountability and work ethic.

Crucially, Tuba modernized the Hustle on the field. He reshaped our overall preparation and strategy to fully adapt to the modern pro model— the dynamics of timed games, clock management, and the big field dimensions—all while brilliantly navigating the unique logistical challenge of leading a roster whose talent was distributed across the entire Southeast.

Beyond X’s and O’s, Tuba consistently reminded his athletes that representing their city and team was a privilege. He instilled an awareness of their influence on the community and local youth, urging players to embrace their role as leaders. Tuba encouraged players to give back not only as an obligation, but as a way to enrich the players' lives and offer a grounding perspective away from the competitive rat race of a long season.

He took a city burdened by a lingering belief that Atlanta sports were "cursed" and replaced it with a fierce confidence. Tuba leaves as the winningest head coach in Atlanta Hustle history, the first to bring a division title to the city, the first to lead us to Championship Weekend, and the most successful Black head coach in Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) history.

A Standard of Excellence: By the Numbers

When Coach Tuba took over, he established a standard of winning that this franchise had never seen before. His tactical overhaul paired elite athleticism with discipline, creating an offensive system that led the UFA in hold percentage during three of his seasons.

• 35 Total Wins & a .673 Win Percentage: The highest mark in Hustle history, anchored by three 10-win seasons.

• Dominating the South: Clinched the Hustle’s first-ever 1st-place regular season finish (doing it 3 times), hosted our first 3 home playoff games, and swept the grueling Texas road trip—a franchise first.

• Defending the A: Won 22 of 27 games at home, including three consecutive undefeated home regular seasons.

• Tipping the Scales: Led the Hustle to 8 victories against the powerhouse Carolina Flyers, flipping the script on a rival that had previously set the league benchmark.

• Signature Victories: Wins at Boston (2023), at Colorado (2024), vs. New York (2024), at Salt Lake (2025), South Division Championship (2025)

In Their Own Words: The Impact Off the Field

While the trophies, banner appearances, and stats speak for themselves, Tuba’s true legacy lives in the players he mentored, challenged, and inspired.

A Message from Ownership

"On behalf of the Atlanta Hustle ownership group, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Coach Tuba for his immense investment of time, energy, and passion into this organization. Tuba brought exceptional values and a corporate level of discipline, leadership, and organization to our franchise that reached far beyond the field. He didn't just transform our on-field performance into a winning culture—his structured approach directly fueled our business growth, elevated our brand, and left an indelible mark on our players, our community, and the sport of Ultimate as a whole. We are forever grateful for the unprecedented success and foundation he built here in Atlanta."

— John Boezi, General Manager

Breaking the Mold and Setting the Culture

"Coming off a lot of tough seasons, there was a general vibe and feeling in the city of us being cursed... Tuba came in and immediately went to work changing the culture of the team and setting a new tone... I also don’t think I can overstate how meaningful it was to me to see an unapologetic Black man leading an Atlanta team with strength, skill, and class. Ultimate is still in a place where Black coaches are pretty rare, so I was proud that Atlanta was being represented by one."

— Justin Burnett

High Standards & Pushing the Limits: "Tuba Time"

"Anyone who played for Tuba knows about ‘Tuba Time.’ While it may have gotten a little easier over the years, it was always the final test at the end of practice. More than a fitness challenge, it was a test of mental toughness. It forced you to answer a simple question: What is going to stop you first—your body, or your mind? ... He challenged you because he believed in your potential."

— Michael Fairley

"Tuba forced players to change from expecting privilege off of talent to proving we belong with hard work. From bear crawls up and down the field... to a hundred throws with runs for each drop, Tuba created and enforced a culture that made sure we didn’t limp across the finish line but sprinted through it."

— Lukas McClamrock

Belief, Motivation, and Connection

"Tuba is like a big brother to me and played a major impact not only on the field but off the field as well... He defines hard work and will do whatever it takes to set us up for success. Your legacy will forever be remembered and stamped on the true meaning of what it is to be a HUSTLE."

— Jakeem Polk

"Tuba was great at knowing his players and understanding what kind of coaching/reinforcement gets through to them... Every time I threw a huck in practice and games I heard his voice and could feel his energy supporting me. This translated well into the season and was a huge confidence boost for me."

— Hayden Austin-Knab

"Throughout his tenure, there was a confidence that resonated throughout the team that we were going to win games... He showed me how important it is to hold people accountable while still genuinely caring about them."

— Alec Wilson Holliday

"Whenever I visualized winning a championship, it had Tuba and I hugging in celebration. He was one of the people I wanted to get over the hump with... He always had the players' backs. I knew he believed in me for all these years, so it made it an easy decision to go play and give all I could."

— Bradley Seuntjens

"Tuba brought a bold new vision for the Hustle... His focus on organizational structure, physical fitness, and mistake-free ultimate really helped the team play at a higher level and reach Championship Weekend."

— Matt Smith

Thank You, Coach

Coach Tuba leaves the Atlanta Hustle immeasurably better than he found it. He showed us what it takes to build an elite professional program, how to play with passion and power, and how to represent this city with unmatched pride.

To Coach Tuba: Thank you for your sacrifice, your infectious energy, your leadership, and your unshakeable belief in this team. Your stamp on this franchise is permanent, and you will forever be a foundational part of the Atlanta Hustle family.

The Atlanta Hustle will soon begin a nation wide search for its next head coach.