Q&A: How Winthrop built an esports program that peers the nation’s best in Year 1
Saying the Winthrop esports program has superseded its inaugural-year expectations isn’t quite right.
It’s an understatement.
After all, prior to the indefinite postponement of their seasons, the program’s two teams were among the best in the nation.
The team that plays “Overwatch” was undefeated prior to the indefinite postponement of the season. And the team that plays “League of Legends” was, at one point, ranked the No. 4 team in the country by ESPN — and had just advanced to the third round of the LoL playoffs.
Considering the fact that this program is the most successful one in the Winthrop athletics department — and considering it’s the only Rock Hill-based team which might still reconvene this spring sports season — The Herald interviewed Winthrop esports coach Josh Sides.
In the interview, the young coach seemed to touch on everything — from why his program is able to recruit globally; to how two previous national champions transferred into his program; to why establishing esports at any college is a “no brainer”; and more.
Some questions and answers were edited for brevity.
Esports in Winthrop athletics
Zietlow: So Josh, you’ve been an esports coach before.
Sides: Last year was actually my first year. I started the program at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, a year ago. And then after a season with them, I saw that Winthrop was hiring, and thought it was a big, awesome opportunity.
Zietlow: Right. What made Winthrop so compelling?
Sides: The fact that Winthrop is an NCAA Division I athletics program that wanted to have esports in athletics made me want to come. They were the first school to do that — to actually launch an esports program in athletics in an NCAA D1... It might not mean a lot in how esports runs and stuff like that, but just in name alone, Winthrop is kind of a big name. Pretty well-known.
Definitely the administration — (former president) Dr. (Dan) Mahoney and (athletic director) Dr. (Ken) Halpin — I thought their vision really aligned with what I wanted to get out of an esports program.
Zietlow: Do you think you’ve been able to obtain the benefits that come with Winthrop being a Division I athletics program?
Sides: Definitely. There’s a lot to say about actually having it in athletics. No. 1, think of the message that sends to prospective student athletes or their parents that this isn’t a club — it’s an athletic team. They’re getting an athletic scholarship. They’re supported by athletic resources.
In addition to that, the benefit of the structure and the benefit of having other coaches that I could talk to is pretty cool. Being able to talk to Pat Kelsey about player egos, or something like that — that’s a really awesome resource to have.
Zietlow: You talk to Kelsey?
Sides: From time to time. I wanted to get in his ear a little more in the spring, but that’s a busy time for him. I’ll hopefully be able to make some more time in the fall.
‘We’re able to recruit… globally’
Zietlow: Alright Josh, I may ask you some offensively ignorant questions. I apologize in advance. How many players are on your team rosters?
Sides: (Laughs.) No problem. So, we have 14 players. We have eight Overwatch players and six League of Legends players. League of Legends is a 5-on-5, so we have five starters and one sub; Overwatch is 6-on-6, so we have six starters and two subs.
Zietlow: Do any of the players overlap? Are there a few Overwatch players who play on the League of Legends team and vice versa?
Sides: They have to be separate, honestly. The time commitment to be excellent at multiple games would be just way too much. They’re super, hyper specialized. Each player basically has their one game. And each player has a super specific role within that one game, too. Kind of like how in track, the field sports guys have different roles — javelin, shot put. They probably couldn’t do each other’s role really well.
Zietlow: So how did you recruit this team? I want the granular — like did you meet these guys on the internet? — but I also want to know what exactly attracted this stacked roster to Rock Hill.
Sides: Recruiting is my favorite part of the job, honestly. It’s what drew me to coaching. It’s what I enjoy doing. I enjoy building successful teams. The awesome thing about recruiting for esports is it’s pretty much all online. The campus finance people love us because our recruiting budget line is basically $0. We’re able to do tryouts online. We’re able to recruit players fully online (via large tryouts)...
Our guys are from all across the country. I think our closest player on the current roster is from Charlotte, and then past that, I think it’s Chicago. We’re able to recruit basically globally, if we wanted to. It’s awesome to have guys from Washington and California and Toronto.
This is the type of thing that can really broaden Winthrop’s... what’s the word I’m looking for?
Zietlow: Footprint?
Sides: Yeah, footprint. These guys out here beyond the Carolinas probably wouldn’t have heard of Winthrop if it wasn’t for our esports team. Getting Winthrop on the map — especially getting us on ESPN on some of the rankings — it’s really awesome...
These sorts of things build on each other. For example, Tony Chau — “Saskio” is his in-game League of Legends name — graduated from Maryville (University) and he’s a two-time national champion. He’s one in a handful. I think it’s like him and one or two other players who are currently two-time national champions. To have someone like that on our roster adds a lot as far as having someone who knows what a championship team looks like. He can bring that veteran leadership.
He’s able to lend an air of legitimacy, too. If we have a player like him buying into the system, it’s a good system. That’s how other players see it.
Zietlow: Y’all upset Harrisburg earlier this season, which won the Overwatch national championships last year. Someone from that team transferred to Winthrop this season also, right?
Sides: Yeah, we also have another guy, Erik “Smooty” Smith, who was with Harrisburg last year.
Coronavirus affects all sports — even esports
Zietlow: Despite recent news of esports being the only live sports competition remaining because of coronavirus and social distancing, your program is obviously still being affected. Both of your teams’ seasons have been postponed — the League of Legends end-of-year tournament has been postponed indefinitely.
I understand that the coronavirus affects people unequally, and I know that this is a problem in collegiate competition. In other words, your players are now off campus; they don’t have access to the necessary hard-wired internet and the proper gaming equipment; they may or may not be tending to family who’ve been affected by the virus; etc. — so it is unfair to expect collegiate esports athletes to compete like nothing has changed amid the coronavirus threat.
All this said, esports (as a sport in general) is getting more attention due to the fact that it’s the only live sports action available to viewers right now.
I’m rambling, but I guess my question is: Are you happy that your sport is getting extra love amid these peculiar times — even if the college sport isn’t getting that same exposure?
Sides: Well, let me just say, adding esports to your college, in my mind, is a no-brainer. Maybe I’m a bit biased. Not to sound like an old man, but it’s what the kids are into these days. There was a study that came out about a year ago: More Americans, ages 18-25, watch more esports than any other sports combined.
This blew my mind as a sports fan. I’m a huge sports nut. But that’s just where we’re at. The kids coming into high school right now, they’re looking for places that align with what they’re interested in. And esports is far and away something that kids are interested in...
And specifically with the COVID-19 stuff, it’s a unique situation. Unprecedented. And honestly I feel for all the other student athletes who’ve put in their time for their seasons, especially the men’s basketball team...
It is definitely a benefit that we could potentially continue competing online. I think, if anything, it gives Winthrop fans a way to continue to support a team... and give them something to get excited about.
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