{"id":66423,"date":"2025-03-24T07:41:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T11:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=66423"},"modified":"2025-05-09T09:01:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:01:37","slug":"game-on-how-utc-esports-is-leveling-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/game-on-how-utc-esports-is-leveling-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Game on: How UTC esports is leveling up"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UTC

UTC esports coordinator Chase Daffron\u2014a December 2024 graduate\u2014is also a business analyst in the University\u2019s IT department and an MBA student. Photo by Ray Soldano.<\/p><\/div>\n

The competition is fierce, the stakes are high and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is all in.<\/p>\n

UTC is leveling up its commitment to esports, transforming what was once a club activity into a structured, competitive program with institutional support, scholarship opportunities and a dedicated gaming facility.<\/p>\n

With a new home in Maclellan Gym, a growing roster of student-athletes and strategic efforts to position itself among the top collegiate esports programs in the Southeast, the University is making a strong play in the booming esports industry.<\/p>\n

UTC\u2019s esports program<\/strong><\/a> has been overseen by the Office of Information Technology since July 2024, a transition that Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Tony Parsley says was necessary for growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took over the program with the hopes of really elevating it, moving it out of the club scene and into a more official, varsity-like structure,\u201d said Parsley, a two-time UTC alum and longtime University staff member. \u201cA lot of universities have dedicated esports programs competing at a national level. Our goal is to position UTC as one of the top programs in the Southeast.\u201d<\/p>\n

UTC\u2019s esports teams include both varsity and academy squads, he said, with varsity players earning scholarships to competitively participate in Call of Duty, League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Valorant.<\/p>\n

More than 60 students currently participate in the program, with numbers expected to rise as interest grows and new games are added to the lineup.<\/p>\n

Parsley said that the esports program \u201cis about more than just gaming.\u201d It\u2019s a valuable tool for recruitment, retention and professional development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just trying to build a strong esports program\u2014we\u2019re building a community,\u201d he said. \u201cThe students who participate in esports form meaningful connections, stay engaged with campus life and develop skills that go far beyond the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The

The Esports Complex’s new home in Maclellan Gym. Photo by Tony Parsley.<\/p><\/div>\n

A significant milestone for the program was the relocation of UTC\u2019s Esports Complex<\/strong><\/a> to Room 201 in Maclellan Gym\u2014the former home of the Math Plaza (which moved to Lupton Hall near the Department of Mathematics). The new esports space is outfitted with 25 high-performance gaming systems featuring top-tier graphics cards, powerful processors, professional-grade gaming peripherals and monitors built for competitive play.<\/p>\n

The upgrades, Parsley said, have provided students with an elite environment for competitive play, team training and casual gaming. Beyond enhancing the student experience, he explained that relocating esports to Maclellan Gym was a strategic move that aligns with the University\u2019s broader goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to create a dedicated space that could serve both competitive and recreational gaming while also supporting academic initiatives,\u201d he said. \u201cWe worked with faculty to incorporate gaming-related coursework into the space\u2014and it\u2019s been a great way to further integrate esports into UTC\u2019s campus culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

The facility is open to all students, providing both a competitive arena for team practices and a social hub for casual gamers.<\/p>\n

At the heart of UTC\u2019s esports program is Chase Daffron\u2014a December 2024 graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree in management: business analytics. Now a business analyst in UTC\u2019s Information Technology department, he also serves as the University\u2019s esports coordinator while pursuing his MBA.<\/p>\n

Known by his gamertag \u201cReDChase,\u201d Daffron has been instrumental in shaping UTC\u2019s approach to competitive gaming since transferring to the institution from Concord University in West Virginia.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Daffron was a second-team College Call of Duty Southeast Region<\/strong><\/a> team selection.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy role is to manage the teams, recruit new players and build a strong community where every team operates as part of a unified program,\u201d said Daffron, a native of McKenzie, Tennessee. \u201cWe\u2019re creating an environment where students don\u2019t just play\u2014they learn, collaborate and grow their personal brands through streaming and content creation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daffron said that the esports program holds its students to high academic standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to maintain a program-wide GPA above 3.0, proving that our student-athletes are excelling in the classroom as well as in competition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Members

Members of the UTC esports program include Brady McGrath (Rocket League) and Maggie Boggs (Valorant). Esports Media Day photos by Ray Soldano.<\/p><\/div>\n

UTC is also fostering a sense of camaraderie among its teams. While players specialize in different games, the program is structured to encourage collaboration\u2014with students supporting one another through tournaments, training sessions and content production.<\/p>\n

Among those student contributors is Brady McGrath, a junior computer engineering major from Spring Hill, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

A member of UTC\u2019s Rocket League team, McGrath (gamertag \u201csteelstreak\u201d) first joined the program on a whim his freshman year and has since taken on leadership roles as team captain and coordinator.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came in not expecting to do any esports,\u201d he said, \u201cbut once I joined, it became something I could be proud of\u2014something fun that I could do for my school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balancing academics, an internship and esports is no small feat, McGrath said, \u201cbut it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a challenge, but over time I\u2019ve figured it out,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the new facility in Maclellan Gym, there\u2019s more of a community now than ever before. You walk in and you see people playing, people streaming, people just hanging out. It\u2019s created an energy that brings us all together.\u201d<\/p>\n

That energy is something Nate Baynes, also from Spring Hill and a junior majoring in the Department of Health and Human Performance\u2019s sport, outdoor recreation and tourism program, helps broadcast to the world.<\/p>\n

Baynes isn\u2019t on a competitive team, but he plays a pivotal role in livestreaming UTC\u2019s Rocket League matches through the platform Twitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do all the behind-the-scenes stuff,\u201d he explained. \u201cI help get the game from their PCs to their fans\u2019 screens\u2014so families and friends who aren\u2019t here can still be part of the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baynes said he found his passion for esports broadcasting after attending a Rocket League event in Boston. What started as a personal interest evolved into a key piece of UTC\u2019s esports success and a professional path\u2014as he now broadcasts for semi-professional organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dream is to do this for a living,\u201d he said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s esports or traditional sports, I want to uplift the viewer experience and make people feel like they\u2019re part of something exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Daffron, \u201cNate\u2019s a very influential piece in why we\u2019ve been able to have the success we\u2019ve had this year growing the esports program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mallori Crocker, a sophomore communication major from Bowling Green, Kentucky, also works behind the scenes\u2014but her focus is production.<\/p>\n

As the team\u2019s go-to for content creation, Crocker handles everything from filming and editing videos to managing graphics and running social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t play video games much\u2014I\u2019m more of a Sims person,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cBut I love the energy here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they asked me to take over production, I jumped at the chance. It lets me do what I love while learning something new every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crocker said events like the recent esports media day\u2014where team members gather for photos and promotional content\u2014give the program visibility and camaraderie.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more than just games,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re telling stories, building a brand and making sure people know what UTC esports is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Maggie Boggs, a Chattanooga native majoring in business finance and minoring in computer science, UTC\u2019s esports program was the community she had been searching for.<\/p>\n

Boggs (gamertag \u201cmagsrex\u201d) captains the Valorant B team and helps coordinate matches and scrimmages.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve played Valorant for years, but I really wanted a gamer community here on campus,\u201d she said. \u201cThis gave me that and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boggs said the gamer experience hasn\u2019t always been smooth, noting that esports is still a male-dominated space. But the UTC community, she stressed, has been overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast semester, I was the only girl on the team,\u201d Boggs said. \u201cNow it\u2019s about 50\/50, and I\u2019ve felt nothing but support from the people here.\u201d<\/p>\n

She encourages other women to give the program a shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you like gaming, don\u2019t let anything stop you,\u201d Boggs said. \u201cEven if you\u2019re not on a team, there\u2019s still a place for you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Esport

Esport team members gathered at Maclellan Gym for Media Day on March 20. Photo by Mallori Crocker.<\/p><\/div>\n

UTC is further strengthening the connection between gaming and academics with the launch of a new minor in fall 2025 titled Narrative Design\u2014Writing for Video Games.<\/p>\n

Housed in the Department of English, the minor\u2014led by Associate Professor Sarah Einstein\u2014will prepare students for careers in game writing, narrative design and digital storytelling by building creative and technical skills for the gaming industry and related fields.<\/p>\n

The minor, Parsley said, is part of UTC\u2019s broader effort to prepare students for careers in the gaming industry and interactive media\u2014offering a direct academic tie-in to the esports program.<\/p>\n

With the program growing at a rapid pace, both Daffron and Parsley hope to attract more sponsorships, increase scholarship funding and elevate UTC\u2019s national presence in collegiate esports.<\/p>\n

\u201cI truly believe we have the potential to be the best collegiate esports program in the Southeast,\u201d Daffron said. \u201cWe\u2019re growing faster than ever and\u2014with the right support\u2014we can build something really special here at UTC.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEsports is bringing students together, helping them develop critical skills and opening doors to new opportunities,\u201d Parsley said. \u201cThis is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC Esports<\/a><\/p>\n

Esports Complex<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC student Chase Daffron recognized as one of the best in College \u2018Call of Duty\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

Esports photo gallery (photos by Ray Soldano, Mallori Crocker and Tony Parsley)<\/h4>\n
\"Parker

Parker Whiting (gamertag shinobi). Photo by Ray Soldano.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Ray Soldano <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Mallori Crocker <\/div> <\/div>
\"Nate <\/a>
Nate Baynes (left); photo by Ray Soldano <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Tony Parsley <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Mallori Crocker <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Mallori Crocker <\/div> <\/div>
\"Michael <\/a>
Michael Padera; photo by Ray Soldano <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Ray Soldano <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Photo <\/a>
Photo by Mallori Crocker <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"esports-digital-graphics-banner-lockup\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With a new home in Maclellan Gym, a growing roster of student-athletes and strategic efforts to position itself among the top collegiate esports programs in the Southeast, UTC is making a strong play in the booming esports industry.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":66466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[661,70,123864,15,61,59,56,3,125609,7712,57,52,122480,64,781],"tags":[125324,68303,119504,122905,123827,123826,119502,125321,123828,125323,125110,124776,125322,12665,123829,125062,12198],"class_list":{"0":"post-66423","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-advancement-and-alumni","9":"category-campus","10":"category-college-of-arts-sciences","11":"category-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","12":"category-college-of-health-education-and-professional-studies","13":"category-community","14":"category-esports","15":"category-faculty-and-staff","16":"category-college-of-business","17":"category-graduate-school","18":"category-masters-in-business-administration","19":"category-news","20":"category-scholarship","21":"category-students","22":"tag-brady-mcgrath","23":"tag-business-analytics","24":"tag-chase-daffron","25":"tag-college-call-of-duty","26":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","27":"tag-cultivating-a-culture-of-innovation","28":"tag-esports","29":"tag-esports-complex","30":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","31":"tag-maggie-boggs","32":"tag-mallori-crocker","33":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","34":"tag-nate-baynes","35":"tag-office-of-information-technology","36":"tag-operating-with-excellence","37":"tag-ray-soldano","38":"tag-tony-parsley","39":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nGame on: How UTC esports is leveling up | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - 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