Head Esports Coach

Greenville University; Greenville (IL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Greenville University seeks a Head Esports Coach & Admissions Representative to lead varsity esports development and manage an admissions caseload. The role splits time between esports coaching, recruiting, program administration, and traditional admissions responsibilities within the Enrollment Department.

The successful candidate will coach, recruit, and guide student-athletes while collaborating with Admissions on scholarship packaging, campus visits, and enrollment metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 2+ years of coaching, competitive playing, or team leadership experience in esports (collegiate, amateur, or professional).
• Deep knowledge of at least one core title's meta, strategy, and competitive ecosystem.
• Strong communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and evaluate talent, including outreach, prospect tracking, and closing commitments.
• Comfort operating within an enrollment/admissions framework, including funnel metrics, CRM tools, and lead-to enrollment conversion.
• Willingness and ability to carry a traditional admissions representative caseload in addition to esports coaching duties.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for practices, matches, travel, and admissions events.
• Ability to affirm and support Greenville University's Christian mission and community life expectations.

Responsibilities

• Design and run practice schedules, scrims, VOD reviews, and skill-development sessions for varsity roster(s) in the SMART Building studio.
• Develop in-game strategy, drafting/pick-ban philosophy, and matchup preparation across current program titles (e.g., League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Valorant, Smite).
• Represent Greenville University in league play, including NACE competition, seasonal fall/spring schedules, and travel to LAN events.
• Evaluate individual and team performance using scrim data, match stats, and third-party analytics tool.
• Build and maintain a recruiting pipeline by scouting ranked ladders, high school esports leagues, showcases, and online scrim circuits.
• Develop a recruiting board/database tracking prospect rank, role, stats, academic profile, and contact history.
• Initiate and manage outreach to prospects and families, including calls, DMs, campus visits, and official/unofficial visit days.
• Run and evaluate tryouts and open scrims to assess skill, game sense, communication, coachability, and mission fit.
• Manage roster construction and depth chart decisions across varsity and developmental squad.
• Coordinate with Admissions on esports scholarship packaging and application support for recruited players.
• Build relationships with high school and club esports coaches, organizers, and streamers to strengthen the talent pipeline.
• Mentor players on time management, sportsmanship, communication, and mental performance.
• Monitor academic progress and enforce program GPA/eligibility standards in partnership with academic advising.
• Promote healthy gaming habits, including ergonomics, screen-time balance, and injury prevention.
• Manage program budget, equipment inventory, and scheduling for the SMART Building esports studio.
• Ensure compliance with NACE, conference, and institutional eligibility rules and the GU Student Handbook.
• Assist with content and promotion efforts alongside GU Marketing and Enrollment Communications.
• Support camps, clinics, and community outreach events to build local pipeline and program visibility.

Skills

Esports coaching

Recruiting

Admissions

Team leadership

Communication

CRM usage (Slate)

Scheduling & planning

Talent evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM tools (Slate)

Job description

Description

Greenville University is seeking a Head Esports Coach & Admissions Representative to fill a dual-function role within the Enrollment Department. This position splits time between leading the strategic, competitive, and cultural development of the Panthers' varsity esports program and serving as an Admissions Representative for the university. As a Christ-centered liberal arts institution, Greenville is committed to developing “gamers of character” — student athletes who compete at a high level while growing in faith, academics, and personal integrity. Reporting to the Chief Enrollment Officer, this individual will spend roughly half of their time coaching, recruiting for, and administering the esports program out of the SMART Building esports studio, and the other half carrying a standard admissions representative caseload — managing a territory or applicant pool and guiding prospective students through the enrollment funnel. This is an ideal role for someone who wants to combine a passion for competitive gaming and player development with a career in higher education admissions

Requirements

Esports Coaching ~50%

Competitive Leadership

• Design and run practice schedules, scrims, VOD reviews, and skill-development sessions for varsity roster(s) in the SMART Building studio
• Develop in-game strategy, drafting/pick-ban philosophy, and matchup preparation across current program titles (e.g., League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Valorant, Smite)
• Represent Greenville University in league play, including NACE competition, seasonal fall/spring schedules, and travel to LAN events
• Evaluate individual and team performance using scrim data, match stats, and third-party analytics tool

Esports Recruiting

• Build and maintain a recruiting pipeline by scouting ranked ladders, high school esports leagues, showcases, and online scrim circuits
• Develop a recruiting board/database tracking prospect rank, role, stats, academic profile, and contact history
• Initiate and manage outreach to prospects and families, including calls, DMs, campus visits, and official/unofficial visit days
• Run and evaluate tryouts and open scrims to assess skill, game sense, communication, coachability, and mission fit
• Manage roster construction and depth chart decisions across varsity and developmental squad
• Coordinate with Admissions on esports scholarship packaging and application support for recruited players
• Build relationships with high school and club esports coaches, organizers, and streamers to strengthen the talent pipeline

Student-Athlete Development & Program Administration

• Mentor players on time management, sportsmanship, communication, and mental performance
• Monitor academic progress and enforce program GPA/eligibility standards in partnership with academic advising
• Promote healthy gaming habits, including ergonomics, screen-time balance, and injury prevention
• Manage program budget, equipment inventory, and scheduling for the SMART Building esports studio
• Ensure compliance with NACE, conference, and institutional eligibility rules and the GU Student Handbook
• Assist with content and promotion efforts alongside GU Marketing and Enrollment Communications
• Support camps, clinics, and community outreach events to build local pipeline and program visibility

Admissions Representative ~50%

• Manage an assigned recruiting territory or applicant caseload, independent of esports recruiting
• Conduct campus tours and information sessions for prospective students and families
• Counsel prospective students through the application, financial aid, and enrollment decision process
• Represent Greenville University at college fairs, high school visits, and recruiting travel within the assigned territory
• Track and manage prospect/applicant activity using the university's CRM (e.g., Slate), and report on funnel metrics (inquiries, applications, admits, deposits) to Enrollment leadership
• Collaborate with Financial Aid, academic departments, and Student Life on yield and enrollment initiatives
• Participate in Enrollment Department events such as admitted student days, orientation, and open houses

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 2+ years of coaching, competitive playing, or team leadership experience in esports (collegiate, amateur, or professional)
• Deep knowledge of at least one core title's meta, strategy, and competitive ecosystem
• Strong communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and evaluate talent, including outreach, prospect tracking, and closing commitments
• Comfort operating within an enrollment/admissions framework, including funnel metrics, CRM tools, and lead-to enrollment conversion
• Willingness and ability to carry a traditional admissions representative caseload in addition to esports coaching duties
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for practices, matches, travel, and admissions events
• Ability to affirm and support Greenville University's Christian mission and community life expectations

Preferred

• Prior head coach, assistant coach, or team captain experience in collegiate or professional esports
• Prior experience in college admissions, recruiting, or a related representative role
• Familiarity with scouting/analytics tools (e.g., Mobalytics, GRID, Overwolf-based tools)
• Experience managing recruiting pipelines and scholarship considerations in a small-college or NAIA-adjacent environment
• Familiarity with CRM/enrollment management systems (e.g., Slate) and admissions funnel reporting
• Working knowledge of streaming/broadcast basics (OBS, Twitch) and content workflows Experience working with 18–22 year old student populations in a faith-based educational setting

Salary Band: $29,250-$88,000/Annually. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions and department budget.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Greenville University's Mission:

Greenville University is liberal arts University that empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming Christ-centered education. Our hiring practices reflect our commitment to be a Christ-centered institution.

GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY

The university is located 50 miles east of St. Louis in an attractive residential community of approximately 7,000 people. Greenville was founded in 1892 and is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church yet draws students from 40+ denominations. For additional information, please visit our website: www.greenville.edu.

Greenville University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, family responsibilities, or national or ethnic origin, in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal laws. In keeping with the mission of the institution, Greenville University seeks applicants with a strong commitment to the values and lifestyle of evangelical Christianity and who profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a Christian institution, we require faculty and staff to adhere to the University's Lifestyle statement and to enforce a religiously based code of conduct for all University employees. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Greenville University, as an educational institution affiliated with the Free Methodist Church USA, reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Sections 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended).