BREAKING: Hilgendorf Named Head Esports Coach at Bryant & Stratton College
Bryant & Stratton College-Wisconsin has hired Shane Hilgendorf as its first head esports coach. Hilgendorf will be responsible for launching the program, recruiting student athletes as well as scheduling and coaching matches and tournaments...
WAUWATOSA, WI (April 11, 2019) - Bryant & Stratton College-Wisconsin has hired Shane Hilgendorf as its first head esports coach. Hilgendorf will be responsible for launching the program, recruiting student athletes as well as scheduling and coaching matches and tournaments. Bryant & Stratton will offer scholarships to students starting in fall 2019.
"I am very excited and happy that the college I am apart of is competing in esports and that I have a chance to help launch the inaugural program," Hilgendorf said.
Esports will mark as Bryant & Stratton's 15th varsity sport. The Bobcats will be joining the National Association of Collegiate Esports governing body, the country's leader to competitive collegiate video gaming. NACE member college's support more than 1,500 student athletes and offer more than $9 million in esports scholarship and aid.
Bryant & Stratton will initially compete in Overwatch and explore other games such as League of Legends and CS:GO. Esports will be part of the Bobcats athletics department.
A 500-square foot esports lab is being constructed at the college's Wauwatosa campus where the program will practice and compete. The lab will be equipped with seven high-end gaming computers, gaming bays as well as a lounge area featuring a 70" monitor for spectators.
The college offers a co-ed team that will hold a full-size roster with the potential of adding more rosters in the future.
"We were proud to be the first in Wisconsin to announce the start of collegiate esports," Bryant & Stratton's Associate Athletic Director Ryan Ratajewski said.
"We see the rapid growth of esports not only on the collegiate level but across the world. Esports is uncharted territory for us but we are fortunate to have Shane as he brings a tremendous amount of experience as well as a strong passion for gaming to Bobcats athletics."
Hilgendorf competed semi-professionally in Heroes of the Storm where he helped his team place third in a HotS Lan Tournament. In League of Legends season three and four, Hilgendorf was in the top three percent of ELO ranked players and from 2011-13 he earned the title of Gladiator back-to-back seasons in 3v3 arenas in World of Warcraft, which is the top five percent of all ranked players.
Hilgendorf is pursuing his nursing degree at Bryant & Stratton.
For more information on Bryant & Stratton esports contact the BSC Athletic Department at
414-302-7000 or visit our athletic website at bscbobcats.com.
Interested student athletes can fill out a recruitment questionnaire here.