WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Otterbein University Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Fox has announced the selection of Nevin Horne to be the campus's first director and head coach for Esports, recently announced as a Competitive Club program to begin competition in 2024-25.

This new campus program, with a line of report to Athletics, will join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and compete in a new arena on campus. Otterbein is currently recruiting students to compete at the varsity level via its player interest form on its Esports website: https://www.otterbein.edu/esports. Prospective student-athletes have begun to express interest in joining the team since the university announced the addition of the program this summer.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for our campus and surrounding area," said Dr. Greg Lott, director of athletics and chair of the hiring committee. "After conducting a national search, Nevin Horne emerged as a natural fit to lead the new Esports program at Otterbein. All of those who have worked with Nevin raved about his ability to holistically mentor student-athletes. Nevin's passion for helping student athletes to grow as people through Esports participation aligns seamlessly with the focus of our department of Athletics. He has prior high-level experience supporting Esports communities engaged in more than a dozen titles, with his most recent experience coaching Esports at Huntingdon College in Alabama. While at the University of Houston he guided its Overwatch team to a Top-40 finish nationally in the Collegiate Championship Playoff. He provided customized training and strategies to improve performance, with UH going to its first LAN and finishing Top 12 at the Commissioners Cup. Further, Nevin has developed expertise in leading tournament operations through his time at Generation Esports where he organized its High School Esports League and hosted the first in-person HSEL National Championship. This background will allow him to cultivate additional student opportunities for the campus community outside of just the competitive team. Nevin even has local ties and a broader understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape, having played football for Ohio Wesleyan University."

"I'm excited to take the next steps with the Otterbein community into the Esports world," said Horne. "I am very thankful to the university Esports steering committee for their confidence in me and support of my transition to the campus. I believe this program can be a catalyst for students and aspiring professionals, helping cultivate student engagement and learning. We will compete but, more so, we will also endeavor to co-create opportunities for students in all aspects of Esports.
 
The Otterbein Esports team will enjoy a programmatic space at The Point (https://www.otterbein.edu/thepoint) and team members will be able to access systems of support for their holistic well-being, academic success, individual and team goal achievement, and skill enhancement. The program will support serious and recreational gamers alike, as well as provide opportunities for student involvement in broadcasting, event management, and community engagement.

Horne is a native of St. Louis, and earned a degree in business administration during his time at Ohio Wesleyan.