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Baker University to Add eSports for the 2019-2020 School Year
Posted: Mar 08, 2019

Baker University to Add eSports for the 2019-2020 School Year

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Athletic Director Nate Houser announced on Friday that Baker University will add eSports to their list of sports for the 2019-2020 school year, bringing their total to 25 sports.

Baker University will join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), becoming the eighth school in the state of Kansas to join the organization. Other organizations within Kansas are, Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College, University of Saint Mary, Pratt Community College, Wichita State University, Central Christian College of Kansas and Ottawa University.

Baker will also be the sixth school within the Heart of America Athletic Conference to add eSports, joining, Central Methodist University, Clarke University, Culver-Stockton College, Grand View University and Missouri Valley College.

Toby Ebel has been named Baker University's first eSports coach. Ebel has been at Baker since 2001, serving in many different roles since arriving on campus. From 2001-2003, Ebel worked in the Registrar's Office as the webmaster and transcript evaluator. Following that, Ebel then became Baker's first full-time webmaster. In 2006, Ebel remained on the IT staff as the website transferred to Marketing, and was named the LMS System Admin, where he has been ever since.

Ebel received his undergrad degree from the University of Kansas in 1995 before earning his K-12 teaching certificate from Baker University in 1997. Ebel then went on to finish his Master of Organizational Leadership from Baker in December of 2016.

"Baker University athletics is very excited to welcome eSports into our family," Athletic Director Nate Houser said. "This new program will continue to move Baker forward, and will welcome more students interested in computer science, data analytics and business, among several other disciplines into our university. Coach Ebel will have the full support of the campus as he helps the program take its first steps forward."

The Wildcats will compete in three different games in their inaugural season, with those three sports to be announced at a later date. Games that NACE offers are:

  • League of Legends
  • Overwatch
  • Counter Strike
  • Rainbow Six: Siege
  • Smite, Battleground of the Gods
  • Paladins, Champions of the Realm
  • Hearthstone
  • Rocket League
  • Fortnite
  • Super Smash Bros
  • FIFA
  • NBA 2K
  • Madden
  • Apex Legends

To visit the NACE website, CLICK HERE.

To fill out a recruiting questionnaire on the Baker Athletics website, CLICK HERE.

#BakerBuildsChampions