GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  - Davenport University announced today that it is adding Esports, competitive video gaming, to its athletic program in 2019. Davenport University is only the second university in the state of Michigan to offer Esports as part of its athletic program. 
 
"Esports is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and we feel it not only fits into our sports programming, but also aligns well with our academic offerings," said Paul Lowden, executive director of intercollegiate athletics "Students who join our Esports program will have the opportunity to pursue their passion for gaming while earning a degree in many of our leading academic programs including business, technology and health."
 
The university is in the process of hiring a head coach and recruiting a team to play in the fall. With its investment in Esports, Davenport is planning to renovate space for a gaming facility within its Student Center and offer scholarships to qualified team members.
 
Today, there are currently 110-plus schools in the U.S. and Canada that offer competitive gaming programs according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan also hosts an Esports program.
 
Esports most commonly feature video games associated with real-time strategy, first-person shooter, fighting and multiplayer online battle arenas. Popular games for Esports include Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, Hearthstone and Overwatch.
 
"Davenport University excels at helping individuals earn degrees that will help them earn a successful career," adds Lowden. "There is a lot of synergy between Esports and the high-demand careers we help our students prepare for including computer science and sports management."
 
Davenport University offers a bachelor's of science in computer science with a specialization in gaming and simulation and a bachelor's of science in computer information systems with a web and mobile development specialization. In fact, Davenport University is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE/CD) as designated by the Committee on National Security Systems in conjunction with the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  It is also designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Digital Forensics as designated by the Department of Defense Cybercrime Center (DC3) and the Academic Cyber Curriculum Alliance (DACCA).   
 
Davenport University has the only Bachelor of Business Administration degree (BBA) in Sport Management accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation degree in the state of Michigan.  

Individuals interested in the Esports coaching position may apply at https://davenport.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=2&id=725. 
 
###
 
Media contact:
 
Ryan Thompson
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
517.438.0995
rthompson62@davenport.edu