Esports

�� Esports Joins Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

lmadaus — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:34:11 +0000

�� Esports Joins Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

lmadaus Tue, 09/08/2026 - 10:34

�� Esports has been accepted as an affiliate member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), opening a new chapter for a program that has grown rapidly in both participation and competitive success.

The presidents of the WHAC’s full-member institutions voted Aug. 31 to approve ��’s application for affiliate membership in esports. �� will compete alongside collegiate esports programs from WHAC institutions, including Indiana Tech, Aquinas College, and Lawrence Technological University.

Affiliate membership allows ��’s program to compete in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in esports without sponsoring traditional athletics. Although classified as an affiliate member by the WHAC, the designation effectively serves as full conference membership for the University’s lone varsity sport.

The seven-week WHAC esports season begins in September and will conclude in early November, with the top six teams advancing to an in-person championship hosted by Indiana Tech on Nov. 7-8, 2026. The championship will provide teams and players an opportunity to compete, connect, and network in person while concluding the season ahead of the longer NACE and NECC schedules.

For Director of Esports Daniel Nowaczyk, the opportunity represents another step forward for a program built largely through the commitment of its students.

“We’ve been working toward this for months, so seeing �� officially accepted into the WHAC is very exciting,” Nowaczyk said. “Our students have put so much into growing this program and competing at a high level, and I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve built. Joining the WHAC gives them another opportunity to challenge themselves, compete against great programs, and show what �� Esports can do. I’m excited to see where they take it.”

The program’s first season in 2020 fielded three titles: Overwatch, League of Legends, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

By Spring 2026, participation had grown to 119 students competing across 12 titles, including Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, iRacing, Marvel Rivals, Deadlock, Apex Legends, and World of Warcraft Mythic+.

The University has expanded its support of the program alongside that growth. �� has a dedicated esports facility with 21 gaming PCs and three iRacing simulators and offers partial scholarships to qualifying incoming first-year and transfer students. In Summer 2024, Nowaczyk became ��’s first full-time Director of Esports, having previously served as a volunteer coach.

On the competitive side, �� teams have steadily built a record of success. The Rainbow Six Siege team earned �� Esports’ first national championship in 2023, defeating Oklahoma Christian University in the National Esports Collegiate Conference National Championship. �� teams have since continued earning regional and divisional championships across multiple titles.

“�� Esports began in 2020 with 25 students and three titles,” said �� President Dr. Robert K. McMahan. “This spring, 119 students competed across 12, with a national championship and a run of regional and divisional titles behind them. Membership in the WHAC gives them a conference schedule and steady competition against established programs. The students built this program, and they earned the invitation.”

While competition is central to the program, Nowaczyk has consistently emphasized that its value extends beyond wins and championships. Esports gives students another place to build friendships, learn to work as a team, challenge themselves, and find support within the �� community.

For a program that began with 25 students just six years ago, Nowaczyk sees plenty of room to keep building.

“The students are what make this program what it is,” he said. “They keep pushing each other, they want to get better, and they’re proud to represent ��. Being part of the WHAC gives them something new to work toward, and I think they’re ready for it.”

�� Esports heads into the 2026-27 season with a busy competitive calendar across NACE and NECC and plenty of momentum from last year’s postseason runs.

In the NECC competition, placements begin the week of Sept. 21, with regular-season play set for Sept. 28 through Nov. 9, and playoffs running through Dec. 7. Varsity and JV teams in the NECC will follow the same schedule and competition format.

NACE Varsity teams will compete under a new full-year format, opening regular-season play Oct. 12 and continuing through Feb. 18. Conference playoffs are scheduled for Feb. 22 through March 18, followed by national playoffs March 22 through April 21 and the in-person national championships April 22-25. ��’s NACE Junior Varsity teams will continue to compete in two shorter seasons.

The Bulldogs are not defending a championship this fall, but several teams enter the season after deep postseason runs. Three �� teams finished second in their regions last spring, while three others placed among the top three nationally. Smash Ultimate returns the same roster that captured ��’s first NACE divisional championship in the title in fall 2025 and advanced to the NACE national playoffs in spring 2026. Counter-Strike’s Jacob Cesarz (a chemical engineering major from Utica, MI), iRacing driver Maverick Davis (an electrical engineering major from Swartz Creek, MI), and freshman Rocket League player Cash Litchfield (a mechanical engineering major from Lawrence, MI) are among the players to watch, while rebuilt Varsity rosters in Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, and VALORANT will look to establish themselves quickly as �� begins another season of national-level competition.

For more information about �� Esports, visit /life-at-kettering/clubs-organizations/competition-teams/esports

�� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

rnorris — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:49:13 +0000

�� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

Clubs and Organizations

Esports

Competition Teams

Esports

rnorris Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:49

�� Esports is adding firepower to its competitive lineup with the introduction of Marvel Rivals. After overwhelming student interest, the fast-paced, team-based title is now an official part of the program — launching with three full team rosters in its inaugural season.

The decision came after ��’s Overwatch 2 team explored its competitive direction for the Spring season. While Overwatch 2 remains available for players who want to compete, the majority of the team chose to focus on Marvel Rivals — a game that has quickly gained traction in the collegiate scene. The shift resulted in the largest Esports tryout in �� history, with 23 students participating. As a result, �� is now home to three Marvel Rivals teams, each ready to take on the growing collegiate competition.

Marvel Rivals is a fast-paced 6v6 team-based player versus player (PvP) shooter featuring iconic Marvel superheroes and villains. Players engage in dynamic battles across various Marvel multiverse locations, choosing from a growing roster of characters, including Spider-Man, Captain America, and Iron Man. The game also highlights some of Marvel’s more niche and fan-favorite characters, including Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark, giving players a wide range of play styles and personalities to choose from.

“From the moment we started talking about Marvel Rivals, the energy was different,” said Dan Nowaczyk, ��’s Director of Esports. “Players were excited. They were engaged. It was clear that this was the game they wanted to compete in. Our program is built to give students that opportunity.”

��’s Marvel Rivals teams will make their tournament debut this month, competing in an event hosted by the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC). With collegiate interest in Marvel Rivals rapidly growing since the game’s December 2024 launch, �� is stepping in as an early contender in the emerging space.

This isn’t the only expansion for �� Esports. The program is also adding Deadlock, a tactical third-person shooter with multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements, and preparing a World of Warcraft Mythic+ team to compete at the highest level of play.

Since its first competitive season in 2020, �� Esports has grown from three game titles and 20 players to 10 titles and nearly 100 competitors. More than just a competitive program, esports at �� brings together students across academic terms, forging friendships, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community.

“Winning is great, but for me, Esports is about something bigger,” Nowaczyk said. “It’s about teamwork, personal growth, and giving students something they can take pride in. That’s why we have a near 99% retention and graduation rate — this program is more than competition; it’s a support system.”

�� Esports is always looking for new talent. If you're ready to compete, build lifelong connections, and push your skills to the next level, visit �� Esports.

�� Names Longtime Coach Dan Nowaczyk Director of Esports

rnorris — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:41:44 +0000

�� Names Longtime Coach Dan Nowaczyk Director of Esports

Esports

Faculty & Staff

rnorris Tue, 07/02/2024 - 13:41

�� is proud to announce the appointment of Coach Dan Nowaczyk as Director of Esports. Nowaczyk’s appointment comes after five years of leadership and dedication, during which he has been instrumental in expanding the program's scope and impact. This move illustrates the University's commitment to the growing Esports program.

Leveling up from its early days when it included three game titles and 20 participants, the Esports program has rapidly grown under Nowaczyk's skillful leadership. It now hosts six major game titles and nearly 100 players. His style emphasizes succeeding competitively and creating educational and community engagement opportunities. “The growth of everything is 1,000% a team effort,” Nowaczyk said. “It’s a ‘we’ or ‘us’ thing for sure, not just with myself and our Esports athletes, but working with academic departments, University events, admissions, financial aid, and everyone else on campus.”

Under Nowaczyk's leadership, the program has introduced Esports scholarships and summer camps, boosting the team’s student enrollment and engagement. “Esports scholarships have helped grow the organization; they have allowed students to come here knowing they’re getting a fantastic education while also being able to compete in something they are incredibly passionate about,” Nowaczyk explained.

Nowaczyk’s commitment extends beyond ��’s campus; his work includes community partnerships and mentorship programs, notably in local high schools and with the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village. “The Esports summer camp we run has shown prospective students what working in a collegiate environment is like,” he said, highlighting the program's role in educating future generations about the potential of Esports participation in college.

Miranda Martin ’25 (Computer Science) joined the Esports team as a freshman and currently plays “Overwatch 2.” “Coach Dan has been an absolutely amazing influence on my development as an Esports player, a leader, and as a student in general at ��,” Martin said. “He has taught me the importance of different teaching styles with different personality types, how to encourage others, and how to cultivate a healthy team environment.”

Nowaczyk has expanded the Esports program to include community partnerships and mentoring for high school students, significantly elevating the culture within ��'s Esports community. “Student acknowledgment and respect for Esports has steadily grown within �� itself,” Martin said. “Coach Dan has been integral in the program. Honestly, joining the team is one of the best decisions I have made at ��.”

Looking to the future, Nowaczyk is enthusiastic about further enhancing ��’s Esports landscape. “We will be more involved with the K-12 Esports scene this next year,” he said. “We’re excited for our 24-hour ExtraLife event in November to raise money for Hurley Children’s Hospital. If we hit our donation goal, I’ll get a tattoo designed by the kids at the hospital.”

Nowaczyk's new position as Director of Esports at �� is not just a role; it's a commitment to his vision and the collaborative efforts of the �� community. His leadership inspires a culture of excellence, inclusion, and growth, ensuring �� remains at the forefront of the collegiate Esports movement.

Esports

�������� Esports Joins Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

�������� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

�������� Names Longtime Coach Dan Nowaczyk Director of Esports

�� Esports Joins Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

�� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

�� Names Longtime Coach Dan Nowaczyk Director of Esports