Higher Ed Advisor: keys to building a world-class collegiate esports program with Boise State University

Welcome to Higher Ed Advisor, the Baker Tilly podcast series where we speak with higher education industry leaders about practical and proactive guidance to help colleges and universities protect and enhance their value.

What began with students playing video games as a hobby has transformed into a competitive, collegiate digital playing field as institutions nationwide take notice of the fast-spreading esports trend and create their own state-of-the-art esports programs. Boise State University’s Varsity Esports Head Coach and Associate Clinical Professor, Doc Haskell, returned to our athletics podcast series to give us updates about their esports team and discuss various topics in the digital gaming space. Listen as we explore:

• Data on the exponential growth of esports programs on college and university campuses
• The ways esports nominations and awards open doors to funding opportunities and increase collegiate esports programs’ visibility
• How name, image and likeness (NIL) serves as guide to focus on student success, including academics
• The growing number of student athletes who want to play collegiate and professional esports and how institutions can help them achieve this goal

Doc also reveals what it takes to build a world-class collegiate esports program: put the students first.

Interested in more podcasts on collegiate athletics and esports?

Meet this episode's guest speakers:

• Katlyn Andrews, CIA, Manager, Higher Education Risk Advisory, Baker Tilly
• Dr. Chris “Doc” Haskell, Varsity Esports Head Coach and Associate Clinical Professor, Boise State University