Jewell launches esports

09/16/2022

William Jewell College has added esports as the College’s newest varsity athletics program. The program is set to begin competition in fall 2023.

While professional esports leagues have been popular for several years, competition at the collegiate level is an emerging and exciting new space for students who excel in the classroom and in game. Jewell will also award scholarships up to $3,500 to esports student-athletes.

Jewell has already begun planning stages for the construction of a state-of-the-art esports training and competition facility in Yates-Gill College Union, which will be ready in time for the program’s inaugural season next fall. Student-athletes will have a unique opportunity to compete against colleges and universities both in the region and across the country while also receiving a world-class college education.

The program will be led by Head Coach Conon “EF5 Albino” Gillis. He has been a lifelong gamer across multiple games, including competing on a national and regional level in the Halo series and representing multiple sponsored U.S. gaming organizations. He taught high school social studies for 10 years and coached the school’s esports team across multiple titles, and he has also been involved with organizing events and tournaments for Halo, Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League and more.

Read more: jewell.edu/esports.