CLEVELAND STATE ESPORTS HOMEPAGE
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland State University athletics department has launched the city of Cleveland’s first varsity intercollegiate Esports program, made official by CSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett on Wednesday.
The brand-new Viking program will compete as a varsity sport under the umbrella of the athletics department, beginning play during the upcoming 2022-23 academic year.
«As stated in CSU 2.0, our university-wide innovative growth strategy, Viking Athletics continues to look towards implementing initiatives that help grow enrollment, generate school spirit and differentiate CSU as a beacon institution in Northeast Ohio and beyond,» shared Garrett. «We are incredibly bullish on the future of esports as a way to recruit new students to CSU and to help create positive stories to share with the community. We look forward to supporting CSU varsity esports within the athletics department framework of services and to leaning on a number of campus partners to position it for long-term success.»
CSU will initially look to sponsor varsity squads for League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, while considering expansion into other titles in the near future.
Initial team tryouts will be held in late July or early August. For more information, current and prospective CSU students should e-mail [email protected].
FARRELL TABBED AS FIRST DIRECTOR/HEAD COACH OF CSU PROGRAM
PJ Farrell has been selected as CSU’s first Director of Esports.
The Cleveland native founded and directed the multi-time national championship-winning program at Holy Name High School in Parma, Ohio. There he ran a team that won five national titles in Rainbow 6 to go with top showings in Call of Duty: Cold War (third overall), Rocket League (top-16), Minecraft (top-31), Overwatch (top-32) and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate (top-32).
In four years Holy Name esports has recorded 15 total playoff appearances.
«Cleveland State has always felt like home to me and it is my privilege to be able to give something back to the Cleveland community,» Farrell said. «Esports at Cleveland State will allow students to not only compete in something that they love, but also something that they can study and can make a career out of.»
CSU TO JOIN NATIONAL ESPORTS COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE
Cleveland State has joined the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and will compete in the league during the 2022-23 academic year.
The NECC began play in Fall 2020 with 36 schools participating. That number has jumped to over 100 college and universities for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Institutions that compete in the conference include the University of Alabama, Bowling Green, the University of Kansas, Kent State, Michigan State, Temple, West Virginia University and the University of Wisconsin.
«We are thrilled to welcome Cleveland State University to the NECC,» commissioner Jacob VanRyn said. «From our conversations with their leadership and seeing the commitment the university has for the program, we are confident they will be successful right away. We look forward to welcoming their community and watching them compete beginning this fall.»
GET IN THE GAME: FOLLOW CSU ESPORTS ON SOCIAL
– Cleveland State Esports Discord Channel: https://bit.ly/3P9Yf19
– Cleveland State Esports on Twitch: https://bit.ly/3P9ZEVt
– Cleveland State Esports on Twitter (@CSUVikes_GG): https://bit.ly/3P9ZgpZ
– Cleveland State Esports on Instagram (@csuvikes_gg): https://bit.ly/3kVyIuu
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