Coach of MSU-WP esports program eager to build team, start competing

For Alex Pinnon, the new Grizzly eSports program at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) is a dream come true.

"I've been wanting to see this happen for a long time," he said enthusiastically during a recent interview to discuss his new role as the team's coach.

Pinnon has been trying to put together a competitive team since he was hired in fall 2013 to teach and direct the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program at MSU-WP.

When he heard that administrators were thinking about establishing a team in this rapidly-growing sport, the one-time Rocket League National Competitive Series gamer jumped at the opportunity to serve as coach.

"I have students who watch me play on my stream," he said. "It's been a great connecting factor for us."

Pinnon's experience made him a perfect fit to lead MSU-WP into the competitive world of videogaming through the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) eSports program. Established in fall 2019 as the only national esports association exclusively for two-year colleges, NJCAAE has grown from 12 schools that semester to more than 125 schools from all across the United States.

Esports is a growing industry

That kind of rapid growth is seen throughout the gaming industry, Pinnon said. "This industry has become so large, it is bigger than film and music combined," he said.

More than 474 million viewers watched gamers compete online in 2021, and the industry has brought in close to $1 billion in revenues, he said. "Esports is considered one of the most viewed sports in the world," he said.

University officials are hoping the addition of this new sport will draw interest from current and prospective students who already play the online games, as well as provide an enhanced collegiate experience for the entire campus community.

While it is possible that esports student-athletes could eventually "go pro" if they're good enough, many could find jobs within the industry after completing degrees in such areas as marketing, communications, audio/visual production and etrade sales at four-year schools, Pinnon said. The program also could give rise to new academic programs in these fields at MSU-WP, as well, he added.

"Essentially, these student-athletes could come here on the A+ Program, Pell Grant or other financial aid package, join our esports program, do well in the rankings, earn a scholarship to anywhere they want to go that offers an esports program and complete a degree," Pinnon said. "Four-year schools are looking for ways to recruit student-athletes to their teams."

Plans for upcoming season

Pinnon hopes to have his team in place to compete during the NJCAAE fall season. Some of the games that will be available include:

Team membership will be based on player experience with these games and their rankings in past competitions.

"Not everyone on the team will play the same games," he said. "Some games limit the number of players that can compete from a team. But there will be some students who will compete in more than one game, if they're experienced enough."

The Grizzlies will compete against teams from two-year schools across the country, and there may be opportunities for fans to watch the competition in person and online, Pinnon said. Those who watch online can even cheer on their favorite players through the gaming platform's comments section, he added.

At the end of the fall and spring seasons, there will be playoffs and championship tournaments, he added.

Current and prospective students interested in joining the Grizzly Esports team should contact Pinnon at APinnon@MissouriState.edu or at 417-255-7965.

For more information about Grizzly Athletics, visit MSUWPGrizzlies.com.