Graduate assistant Kole Johnson stepped up to lead Hood Esports this season after former head coach Tyler Combz left the program mid-March.
While the exit of a coach mid-way through a season could deter a lot of teams’ successes, this group didn’t waver in its competitions and are making the most of its season.
“I really sit in a good opportunity to be able to grow from the challenge and be able to help the team in the process,” Johnson said.
Hood’s Esports teams compete in five games, including Overwatch, Halo Infinite, Valorant, Rocket League and League of Legends, with each of the five teams specializing in one game. According to Johnson, the team is currently looking to compete in Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Rainbow 6 as well.
The 2022 season is almost over as the teams head into playoffs, with four of the five teams having made conference play this year. This is the first season that Hood has competed in Halo, and Johnson said the group is eager to compete for a full season next year.
Pre-playoffs, Hood is the reigning conference champion in Overwatch and runner-up in Valorant. Johnson said the teams are eager to claim another title for the program in this year’s playoffs.
This season, the Rocket League team had the most wins, making it the most successful regular season team, while Overwatch is the most successful post-season team as the team members are one for one in title attempts.
“We have worked out the teams’ kinks and are looking to make a run at it again,” Johnson said. “Valorant also is a dark horse pick for the title.”
The teams have been hard at work all season long, with practices five to six days a week. The players also put in hours on their own time. Johnson said most players put in over 20 hours a week of practice on their respective games.
To bring more players to the Esports teams, Johnson recruits from the pool of all Hood College students. He sends out semesterly emails looking for any student interest. Interested students can go to the Esports arena in the basement of Coblentz Hall during the evenings to meet with Johnson.
“We have been able to get teams comfortable in their respective games fully to where they can just focus on the task at hand,” Johnson said of the teams’ success this season. “Also adding a new game, Halo, is a big addition for us.”
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