ASHLAND — In the collegiate environment, adapting curriculum and activities to the demands of the younger generations is key if you to attracting the best students.
In a novel twist, Ashland University just added an esports program to its varsity sports lineup, with matches to begin in the fall. Student athletes can receive up to $4,000 in scholarships for competing in AU’s esports program.
The simple definition of esports is video game competition between teams played on game consoles. But considering esports generated $765 million in revenue in 2017, according to Engadget, the platform is much more than kids playing video games in the basement.
The first college to start an esports venture was Robert Morris University in 2014. Just four years later, there are more than 60 schools participating and even more on the club or rec level.
To coach the new team, AU hired Joshua Buchanan, player manager for Sloth E-Sports Club. Sloth is ranked in the top 3 in North America for Starcraft 2. Buchanan promises to bring his own approach and coaching style to AU.
“When I am coaching team-based games, such as League of Legends and Overwatch, I will focus primarily on developing teamwork and communication, as those are the most important aspects of those games,” Buchanan said. “Meanwhile, coaching in 1v1 games like Starcraft & Hearthstone, will be more focused on developing student-athletes ability to look at their play objectively and identify strengths and weaknesses.”
Esports managers and coaches are responsible for mentoring, scheduling and coordinating tournaments. Coaches also take on the role of recruiting the best talent, along with benefit administration.
“We have been speaking to many students playing various games who rank among the top 10 percent to .01 percent of players globally,” Buchanan said. “We don’t have major expectations for the first year, but you can expect us to be a highly competitive esports program in the future.”
On an individual level, Buchanan is currently ranked 40th in the U.S. for Starcraft 2 and has experience with many games, such as Overwatch and League of Legends.
As for the coach’s favorite game?
“StarCraft for the PC is without a doubt my favorite game of all time. It was the game that first introduced me to the world of esports. The number of friendships I’ve made and personal growth I’ve experienced through playing StarCraft is invaluable to me,” Buchanan said.
Are you an elite gamer and want to apply for a scholarship? You can begin the process online at http://goashlandeagles.com/
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University.
