NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Heartland Community College announced the hiring of a new head Esports coach on Tuesday.
According to a Heartland College news release, Cole Belcher will fill the role left by departing coach Jarrod Rackauskas.
“I am beyond thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to head the Hawks eSports program,” said Belcher. “It truly is a privilege to join a community that shares my passion for eSports and values the importance of strategic gameplay, teamwork, and sportsmanship. I am committed to harnessing the talent and potential of our players, fostering a culture of excellence, and achieving success in the virtual arena.”
Belcher received an MA in Communication Media and Critical Theory from Eastern Illinois University and a BA in Strategic Communication from Eureka College.
The Heartland Esports program began in the Fall of 2021 and won championships in Madden 24 (Jono Edmonson), NBA2K (Jono Edmonson), Street Fighter 6 (Caleb Spicer), Super Smash Brothers Ultimate (Luke Sherman), and Super Smash Bros Ultimate Crew (Luke Sherman, Matthew “Bo” Larson, Alex Baccheschi).
“The bar has been set high by Coach Rackauskas and many of the athletes who will be leaving the program this year, but I am confident that this transition will not be a setback for the team’s momentum,” said Belcher.
“My goal is to continue building the program to be one that assists each student involved with further developing the skills they need to be successful in either a future career in competitive eSports or whatever other future endeavors they wish to pursue.”
Last year, the Esports team competed in League of Legends, Call of Duty, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, Mario Kart 8 1v1, Overwatch 2, Fortnite Build, Hearthstone, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, NBA2k, and Madden.
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June 26, 2024 at 02:46PM
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