King of the Nerds season 2: Where are they now?
What happened to the season 2 cast of King of the Nerds 11 years later?
King of the Nerds season 2 first aired on January 23, 2014. Like the previous season, season 2 saw 11 more nerds competing for the title of “King of the Nerds,” a spot on the throne of games, and a cash prize of $100,000. However, this season’s finale saw a change in how the final “nerd off” works, due to the controversial method used in the previous season.
This season saw as teams “Midas Touch Attack” and “Titans of Rigel” competed in challenges such as cosplay, science, debating, and more. While the “Titans of Rigel” dominated, “Midas Touch Attack” suffered as they lost challenge after challenge. In the end, Kayla LaFrance won the season against underdog Jack Hou.
1. Kelsey Syers (11th place)
Being seen as a weak link, Kelsey was the one that was not picked for a team on episode 1. After falsely being given the power to eliminate whoever she wanted, Syers was sent to the “Titans of Rigel” team. She was then quickly put into the “nerd off” and was eliminated against the team leader Chris Jackson.
It is currently unknown exactly what Kelsey is up to now. Any socials that she has is either nonexistent, or does not reveal anything about what she is up to now. The only information on Kelsey is that she currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia as of 2024 through her Facebook page.
2. Josh Wittenkeller (10th place)
The popular Pokémon content creator Josh (also known as JWittz on the internet) won the online contest to be a contestant on the show, and was a member of team “Midas Touch Attack.” After losing the episode 2 “nerd war”, Josh along the rest of the team voted social outcast Zack Storch into the “nerd off”. However, Josh would be voted in the “nerd off” by the “Titans of Rigel” and lose to Zack, leaving Josh in 10th place.
As of 2025, Josh is currently a talent manager for the non profit organization Gamers Outreach. The organization helps hospitalized children through video games. On May 1, 2022, Josh became a father to a boy.
3. Mary Kate Smith (9th place)
Mary Kate joined the show, and was put on team “Midas Touch Attack.” After losing her close ally Josh on episode 2, Mary Kate was the next target of team leader Zack. After losing the episode 3 “nerd war”, Mary Kate was put into the “nerd off” and lost to Zack, officially placing 9th.
According to her Linkedin, Mary Kate got her Masters in Science from Mississippi State University in 2016. Mary Kate is also currently working under NASA as the MBSE Senior Systems Engineer for Aegis Aerospace Inc. She has also since moved from Starksville, Mississippi to Orlando, Florida.
4. Nicole Evans (8th place)
Nicole started the season keeping her scientific background a secret from the rest of the competitors, only to quickly be exposed by fellow “Midas Touch Attack” teammate Zack. After losing 3 “nerd wars” in a row, Nicole was sent into the “nerd off” by the “Titans of Rigel” in an attempt to defeat Zack. However, this plan failed as Nicole was defeated, leaving her in 8th place.
As of 2025, Nicole occasionally streams on Twitch where she plays video games such as Exposition 33. According to her Linkedin profile, Nicole has since changed her last name to Dorner. Nicole is currently working as a Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Chicago Tube & Iron.
5. Katie Correll (7th place)

After winning multiple challenges in a row with the “Titans of Rigel” team, Katie was randomly selected to go over to the “Midas Touch Attack” team. having their former team on their side, Katie would be put into the “nerd off” against Jack Hou. Despite their best efforts, Katie would lose the nerd off to Jack, leaving them in 7th place.
After the show, according to Katie herself in a reddit comment, they are currently working an engineering manager as well as a design director. They have had made works of art, making costumes, puppets, and various other projects according to her website. On March 31, 2018, Katie came out as Agender on their Twitter account and now goes by they/them pronouns.
6. Chris Jackson (6th place)

Chris began the season being the team leader of the “Titans of Rigel” team. After winning the first “nerd off” against Kelsey in the first episode, Chris would help his team win 4 “nerd wars” in a row. However, after losing their first “nerd war” since their winning streak, team “Midas Touch Attack” members Jack Hou and Zack Storch put Chris into the “nerd off” for being a threat, where Chris would lose to Brian Davidson, coming in 6th.
As of June 2025, Chris is currently the senior manager at Axiom Space according to his Twitter bio. According to Chris himself in a reddit comment, he (along with season 3 contestants Ori and Colby), attend conventions such as Super MAGfest and TooManyGames. He currently plans on attending the TooManyGames convention later this month.
7. Zack Storch (5th place)
Despite being the leader of team “Midas Touch Attack” Zack would become disliked among their cast members due to consistently antagonizing others. This would cause them to be put into 4 out of 5 possible nerd offs. After winning 3 nerd offs in a row (in episodes 2, 3, and 4), avoiding the nerd off in episodes 5 and 6, their luck would run out at the final 5 after losing to Jack Hou in the angry nerds nerd off.
After the show, Zack would change their pronouns to they/them according to their Twitter account (which has not been in use since 2023). Zack released a book titled “Za’nar Impossibility” which was released on January 3, 2015. It is currently unknown what Zack is up to as of 2025, as any social media Zack has seems to be abandoned.
8. Xander Jeanneret (3rd/4th place)
Xander would be a contender during the season, as he would lead the “Titans of Rigel” to multiple victories. Over the course of the season Xander would make it all the way to the final 4 without ever receiving any votes to go into the nerd off. However, Xander would be eliminated at the semi-finals after losing a sudden death nerd war.
As of 2025, Xander is still an active ga(y)mer, where they streaming games such as “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” and “Ace Attorney Investigation” on his Twitch account. Xander is also an active cosplayer, and occasionally posts their cosplays on Instagram. According to their Instagram bio, Xander goes by he/they pronouns as of today.
9. Brian Davidson (3rd/4th place)

Brian was a part of the “Titans of Rigel” team that dominated throughout the season. After 4 consecutive weeks of being on top, Brian would be the one to take out team leader Chris Jackson in the sci-fi nerd off. He would eventually be eliminated right before the finals after losing a sudden death nerd war.
As of 2025, Brian is currently living a private life and is staying out of the spotlight. However, he does still keep in touch with his fellow King of the Nerds contestants. Brian is currently working as the Director of Fellowships Advising at Claremont McKenna College.
10. Jack Hou (Runner-up)
Over the course of the season, Jack would become the ultimate underdog, as he would survive numerous nod war losses, being on the “Midas Touch Attack” team with one of the biggest villains in reality tv history, and being put into 2 nerd offs. After scratching and clawing his way to surviving 8 eliminations, Jack would make it all the way to the final 2. However, Jack would just barely lose out on the victory to NASA Scientist Kayla LaFrance.
According to his Twitter, Jack started working with Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency at Tulane University in 2019. However, it is unknown if he is still working there, as his Twitter has been inactive since 2020 (with the exception of 1 tweet made in 2022). While he is active on Reddit, he continues to live a private life, not going into detail about what he is up to today.
11. Kayla LaFrance (Winner)
Despite being underestimated at the beginning of the competition, Kayla would become a force to be reckoned with. Not only was she strong in challenges which lead her to win team and individual challenges, Kayla would talk her way out of sticky situations when facing potential danger. Her competition and social capabilities would allow her to make it all the way to the final 2 and become the winner of King of the Nerds Season 2.
As of 2025, Kayla continues to work of future Mars missions. According to her Linkedin has been working as an ISO Flight Controller for the ISS at NASA in Houston, Texas since October 2015. Kayla’s Twitter and Instagram bio indicates that Kayla still is a fan of Star Trek.