(KNSI) – Chase Neukam is hitting the ground running as the new director of esports at St. Cloud State University.
He started on campus on February 1st and has already made it to a couple of weekly campus Super Smash Brothers events, although the students there may not have recognized him. Neukam says his goal is to be a member of the community first then help foster its growth.
“What St. Cloud State has done really well, in my opinion, is they’ve already sowed the seeds in a few areas to allow that community to flourish. And so, with my role coming in, yes it is to plant seeds here and there and help those communities grow but it’s also watering the plants that are already here.”
Neukam says his first impression of the campus is that it is a walking architectural showcase. He notes that there are interesting features in every building he has been in so far. Neukam comes to SCSU from St. Ambrose University.
Neukam says his role as esports director is an all-encompassing one.
“On the competitive side of things, what I would say is if my role was just in that department, I would be an eSports head coach. As an esports Director, I’ll be focusing on the community, the competition and the curriculum. That’s sort of the three C’s that we’re looking at as we’re engaging esports.”
Neukam graduated from Ball State University where he helped build that school’s program from the ground up as a student. He says he first got the gaming bug in high school when he was living at a friend’s house. The family helped him build his first PC and he has been hooked on the hobby since.
Neukam says the best advice he got regarding esports came at a convention in college. He asked a CEO of a gaming company what the best route was for a career in the field. The man told Neukam to just get involved. He hopes to mentor others along that path if they are interested while furthering what is just a hobby for others.
SCSU held an esports event at Best Buy last month. Neukam says more is planned in the coming months and the esports Arena should be in full swing by the fall.
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