Updated Dec 19, 2019;Posted Dec 19, 2019
Robin Goist, cleveland.com
The University of Akron's esports program recently added varsity teams for Fortnite: Battle Royale and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron's esports competitive video gaming program is under new leadership, and has added two varsity teams for Fortnite: Battle Royale and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Nate Meeker, previously the esports coordinator, stepped in as director this month after Michael Fay, former director and head coach, left on Dec. 6 to manage the esports center at Rutgers University. Former Assistant Esports Director David Kirk also has left UA to be director of esports at Illinois State University.
"I do help out with quite a bit of the coaching," Meeker, a former competitive gamer, told cleveland.com. "But right now, we're searching for a new head coach for the program as I take over the director's role."
UA posted job openings this week for a "competitive director/head coach" and "program coordinator."
More than 2,200 students have been involved in the Akron esports program, which includes events on campus, 17 clubs and seven varsity teams, two of which were formed this fall. There are 42 varsity players and 10 managers and coaches.
The added varsity teams for Fortnite: Battle Royale and Rainbow Six Siege join the existing teams: League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone and Rocket League. Last month, the Rocket League team earned its second-consecutive national championship.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a survival game where players and their teammates are pitted against other teams in a large arena after their characters skydive onto an island. Teams earn points for eliminations and placements and those points are compared to the other teams that are also competing in the league.
Rainbow Six Siege is a first-person tactical, team-based shooter game. Each team selects five characters who play against each other as attackers or defenders to see which team is better at working together to secure or defend the objectives.
The University of Akron's Rainbow Six Siege varsity esports team. (Courtesy of the University of Akron)
This fall, in its first season as a varsity program, Akron's Rainbow Six Siege team finished on top of the standings in both the College Rainbow Six League and the College Esports Association league, according to UA. The team is currently competing in playoffs in the Collegiate R6 league. The team entered as the No. 1 seed in all three leagues. UA's Fortnite team is also in playoff contention in the Collegiate Star League, UA said.
The University of Akron's Fortnite: Battle Royale varsity esports team. (Courtesy of the University of Akron)
The new teams are comprised of UA students who were active in the clubs for each game, Meeker said. The esports program is recruiting new players and will be holding tryouts for all seven varsity teams in February.
"I am excited to be able to add both of these popular games to our roster," Meeker said. "It's great to be able to support two club programs that were already doing well in their respective divisions and help turn them into varsity programs."
The esports program will resume when students return from winter break in January.
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