ATHENS, W.Va. — Concord University on Friday named Austin Clay as the next head coach of its esports program.
Clay, whose username is “Timesplitter56,” founded the esports program at Alfred State College and oversaw the program for two years. He coached the program’s Overwatch team, in which Alfred State College placed in the top 100 schools for two years.
Alfred State College also won the the Empire State Winter Games at Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smiths, New York.
Clay also volunteered with the Overwatch team at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, in which he assisted with recruitment.
“I am looking forward to being able to create an environment that both fosters highly competitive teams, and one that creates a welcoming community to all,” Clay said in a press release.
“Furthermore, I’m looking forward to being able to help out these students with their gaming skills, but also support and give them the chance to continue their life within the esports industry, may that be competing, graphic design work, back-end work for production, casting the games, PR/social media and many more types of jobs once they are done with getting their degree here at Concord.”
The Concord University esports program began in 2019, and is the first such program at a West Virginia public college or university.