Sierra Nevada University is beginning the 20-21 season by adding a new ESPORTS team to its varsity athletics. In the spirit of entrepreneurial leadership, the university is breaking the mold of traditional college athletics. ESPORTS will bring the thrill of competition to a new group of student athletes. The ESPORTS team is fully supported by SNU, offering the same athletic scholarship opportunities for players. The team is actively recruiting now for the fall term.
The SNU Eagles are a member of NACE, the National Association of Collegiate Esports. NACE was formed in 2016 to help grow strong a strong esports community which benefits colleges and students alike. It guides members on starting varsity esports programs, supports a recruiting network, and provides a collective voice representing most of the institutions in the collegiate varsity esports space. Currently NACE counts 150+ institutions as members, representing 94% of all varsity programs in North America.
The specific game(s) the team will play are not yet determined, but they will be chosen from the most popular games in the league. The top three, by a large margin, are (in order) League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League. The rest of the top 10 includes Hearthstone, Fortnite, CS:GO, Super Smash Bros, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six: Siege, and NBA2K.
Adding esports to SNU’s athletic roster is an opportunity to bring the culture of competition and student enthusiasm to a wider cohort of players – and fans. Anyone interested in joining or other involvement with the team should contact Athletic Director Chris DeLeon at cdeleon@sierranevada.edu.