WHY ESPORTS?
It’s a field exploding with opportunity.
The worldwide esports audience is massive, at 474 million, and there are more than 8 million active streamers on Twitch. Discord, also popular among gamers, Discord has over 140 million active monthly users and 300 million registered accounts, and is valued at $7 billion.
While the esports industry as a whole is already a billion-dollar business, it is expected to continue to grow, with an anticipated 2024 value of $1.6 billion, according to Statista.com.
According to Indeed.com, a gaming manager for Blizzard Entertainment, a division of esports juggernaut Activision Blizzard, can earn up to $155,000, while a freelance esports and video game writer can earn an average salary of $54,226, according to ZipRecruiter.
Also, major esports competitions are multifaceted endeavors with worldwide audiences and multimillion-dollar prize pools.
I predict that by 2024 esports will actually have an Olympic event!”
Visionary/economist Bob Froelich is quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune
A Growing Esports Workforce
The esports field is perfect for anyone interested in event management, communications, gameplay, coaching, exercise science, or being part of a field that promises to grow more prominent and engaging with every passing year. For example, from 2018 to 2019, paid esports positions increased by over 110%.
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As noted on CNBC by Peter Guber, a co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Dodgers and the professional esports organization Team Liquid, being able to fill a particular place isn’t necessary for esports.
You'll see that it's everywhere, and it isn't bound by geography. You don't use a stick or a bat to play, and you can play alone or with a whole group of people, play against the best."
Peter Guber | Co-owner of Team Liquid
A new world has arrived, right at your fingertips.
We’re ready to pick up the controller and play.
Are You?
Esports News
Global Game Jam Returns to Shenandoah!
Shenandoah University is back in the game for its third year as a Global Game Jam host site. The Global Game Jam is a 48-hour event at which participants create a game or games (video games or ... Continue Reading Global Game Jam Returns to…
Esports Course That Explores Music and Gaming Returns
Shenandoah University is excited to announce the return of a unique esports class this spring that will allow students to explore music and the role it plays in gaming and in society while also ... Continue Reading Esports Course That Explores Music…
Esports Goes Dutch
An October Shenandoah University esports program trip to Amsterdam to attend and evaluate the Dutch League of Legends finals – the first in-person esport event to be held at the H20 Esports Campus, ... Continue Reading Esports Goes Dutch
ESPORTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Joey Gawrysiak
Joey Gawrysiak holds the controller in the world of esports academia.
He has made the international esports rounds, with appearances on podcasts, radio shows and even a cruise line, and has presented at several gaming and sport management events—including the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand and the Music and Gaming Educational Symposium. He is the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) 2021 Esports Program Director of the Year and chairman of NACE’s Board of Directors. He also serves on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Esports Conference.
He has hosted esports tournaments and served as a guest lecturer and consultant for several universities.
Gawrysiak was a competitive gamer in Halo: Combat Evolved while in college.
ESPORTS HEAD COACH & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Zach Harrington
In addition to overseeing the competitive side of the program, Zach uses his experience as a competitive gamer across multiple genres to directly coach the Shenandoah University varsity Overwatch, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate teams. His work has been noticed – Harrington was named the 2021 College Esports Head Coach of the Year by the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD).
As a computer and technology enthusiast, his technical expertise has helped grow the Shenandoah University esports program by enabling them to run multiple successful live esports events, as well as build a state-of-the art Esports spectator arena which includes a broadcast production room used for live streaming and content creation.
Harrington is a co-founder of GHS Esports Solutions, a consulting firm which provides information on a wide range of esports-related topics, including starting an esports program, coaching, team building, and hardware requirements. He is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports Competition Council.
INSTRUCTOR OF ESPORTS
Chris Scroggins
Christopher Scroggins received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from James Madison University. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina.
His previous experiences as a competitive gamer, consultant, and CEO of a gaming and entertainment organization have given him invaluable experience and resources that he uses to research, teach, and provide consultation.
Scroggins has appeared on radio shows, news sources such as NPR, and presented at numerous esports conferences and panels across the country. Scroggins has helped develop the Esports curriculum at Shenandoah University and is currently co-editing and authoring one of the first comprehensive esports textbooks.
Chris still plays video games to stay current with the industry and has recently started to play competitively again.
