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ESC: You've been involved in College Esports for a few years now, what are the biggest changes you've seen over the past few years?

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Alex: The shift in what games are in the spotlight, and the general acceptance of video gaming as a whole. When I started, the genre of Battle Royal was still relatively small and niche. In today's esports ecosystem they are a force to be reckoned with. That is in part thanks to the coverage of those games in traditional news. Games like Fortnite take the world by storm in such a commanding way that people outside the industry take note. When a game becomes a common household or pop culture name then you know its succeeded. That has led to a huge wave of acceptance of organizations and people realizing that gaming has broken peoples perceptions of it being a niche market.


ESC: As the head coach of a university supported esports team, what are your main responsibilities and goals when filling out your team roster?

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Alex: Obviously we want the most successful team we can get. That being said, I think a common misconception is that only the highest ranking players can "make it". Some of my most successful students have been the lowest ranking player on the team who was given a chance to prove themselves with the help of my coaching. I think sometimes people think of me as a manager trying to pick the best team now, but in reality I am looking down the road 2 years or more to where I think I can get the player with my coaching and their determination. That being said commitment and determination are some of the most sought after skills for a player to have before they come to me. I can teach you the game, I can't teach you the drive for self betterment.

ESC: What non-gaming attributes do you look for in your players?

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Alex: Aside from the skills I mentioned prior, another huge skill to have outside of gaming is communication. Most players that come to me have no real team experience. The ability to work well within a group and be able to get through fast paced calls and tough disagreements is most common trait in the students I pick as leaders. It is a cornerstone of my coaching philosophy and to have already considered that before you get to me means you will be a step above when it comes time to train.


ESC: What are the top 4 "out of game" training exercises that an aspiring player can do to improve their performance?

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Alex: Sleep, Eat, Mechanics, Communication. That may sound overly simplified but some of these are often overlooked. First, make sure you are taking care of your body. That means a normal sleep schedule, and putting quality food in the tank. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I will hear a player use lack of sleep or food as a reason for their lack of success. Take the time and take care of yourself. After that it would be what we call micro mechanics. This is the little split second reactions in a game that can be the difference between life and death. this can vary from game to game, but most times games have built in practice tools that I often utilize with my student. Lastly would be to build good communication habits with players in your games. A lot of people tend to have the mindset of players online being random and unimportant to your goals. If you can learn and practice communication in and out of game and start to gain respect for everyone even when they don't deserve it you will see results. It sound corny, but overly positive players carry that energy to their team, and toxic players statistically lose more games.


ESC: If I wanted to get into coaching esports, what advice would you have for me?

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Alex: There are two main pathways. Go to college, and/or get VERY good at your game. I am talking top 2%. A degree opens so many doors, everywhere in your life, so it is very rarely a bad idea. Take the energy and excitement you have for your game and ply it. Practice coaching friends, or even offer your services online to player in forums.  Once you have your skill base, apply it. This can be any range of people, skill, or setting. My earliest coaching experience was a team of players I formed for fun to play my management and coaching.  If you can shadow a coach you respect. Most will be elated at the opportunity to teach someone their passion (we are coaches after all!). My mentors lifted me up and helped me connect in industry and that is a great place to start.


ESC: What's been your biggest highlight so far in your esports coaching career?

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Alex: I gave a presentation on esports to a group that was largely unaware of the industry. The amazement at the scope of it when you are made aware is my favorite. Seeing someone get excited and interested in something I have made my career out of is incomparable. The same feeling as seeing a player who was stuck in a rank start to advance after my help. You see that passion and interest in learning more. Seeing that feeling in someone I have influenced gives me more joy than most anything I have ever done.


ESC: What are your goals for our camps this summer?

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Alex: I would love to be able to give younger players the environment to succeed. This can mean ranking up in their game, or prepping to be a collegiate athlete and earning a scholarship. I write my program to be widely applicable to anyone regardless of their goals. I even teach life skills through my games! If I had to boil my camp down to one fundamental idea it would be to set you up to surpass your goals within esports.

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Alex Holler is the Head Esports Coach of Menlo College and the Director for the Esports Camp at Menlo & Cogswell Colleges.