Ball State and Daleville Community Schools Announce Partnership

Ball State University and Daleville Community Schools have
announced a unique partnership in which esports student-athletes from both
institutions will work together to form a meaningful educational and
extracurricular experience. 

As part of this one-year agreement, Ball State will host
students from Daleville Jr.-Sr. High School at its new Esports Center—located
within the University’s Robert Bell Building—to engage in esports games,
practices, and competitions. Daleville students will also benefit from coaching
and instruction from Ball State Esports
student-athletes and the program’s director and varsity head coach, Dan Marino. 

“Ball State’s esports program strives to provide its
students with innovative opportunities to learn and to make connections with
their peers and within the community,” Mr. Marino said. “Through our esports
opportunities, students will find their passion and purpose at Ball State, and
we are excited to partner with Daleville Community Schools to extend our reach
and foster important relationships with the next generation of egamers.” 

Both Ball State and Daleville established their esports
programs in 2020. At Ball State, more than 50 students are involved in the
varsity esports program, and more than 700 students participate in esports club
activities. The varsity team competes primarily with 12 members of the
Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the independent Esports Collegiate Conference
(ESC) in multiple games, including Overwatch, Rocket League, and League of
Legends. 

Daleville Jr.-Sr. High School’s esports program will
compete as a club team this season within the Indiana High School Esports
Network (IHSEN). The Daleville varsity team, which consists of 10 students,
will compete in multiple games, including Valorant, Rocket League, and
Fortnite. The team is being led by Jeremiah Norris, Adam Jones, and Tim Crist. 

“Esports is emerging quickly as a global enterprise, and
it’s a great example of the potential that exists for our students to learn,
have some fun, and develop their skills—if they decide to do so—and turn what
was, not that long ago, almost solely an extracurricular activity into a
potential career opportunity,” said Greg Roach, Daleville Community Schools’
superintendent. 

Dr. Paaige Turner, dean
of Ball State’s College of Communication, Information,
and Media, which offers the University’s esports program and
Esports Production concentration, said she is looking forward to the
opportunity to invite the students at Daleville Community Schools to build upon
their esports experiences and their education in partnership with Ball State. 

“We are proud of our
esports program,” Dean Turner said. “And we are deeply committed to offering a
curriculum and co-curricular experience that is as engaging as it is relevant
to meet the expectations of our students and those who are considering pursuing
an education at Ball State.”