Winthrop University Esports Under Fire
Winthrop University Esports’ collegiate program is facing criticism from the esports community due to its management and treatment of students.
The controversy started with posts on social media revealing conversations between the program’s Assistant Director Sheldon Williams and a collegiate Overwatch player known as ‘Toad’.
Esports coach Christian ‘Woods’ Woods shared screenshots on March 5th, exposing the Assistant Director’s behavior towards a potential student interested in the program.
Toad, who competes for Alvernia University Esports, reached out to Winthrop University but faced challenges due to financial constraints, leading to a disagreement with Williams over the application fee.
Reaction of the Collegiate and Esports Community
The response from the collegiate esports community has been supportive of Toad, with many criticizing Williams’ actions and Winthrop University’s recruitment practices.
Notable figures like NACL caster Matt Samuelson and esports personality Ovilee May expressed disappointment in the incident and highlighted the need for professionalism in collegiate esports programs.
While Winthrop University has not issued an official statement, Sheldon Williams publicly apologized to Toad for his behavior and pledged to improve interactions with students in the future.
Winthrop University’s Esports Programme
Winthrop University’s esports program, led by Director Josh Sides, has been active since 2019, competing in games like Overwatch, Fortnite, and Rocket League.
The university’s VALORANT team achieved success at Dreamhack Atlanta 2024 and has been recognized with Scholastic Esports Awards for Director of the Year and Coach of the Year.
The program has seen growth in budget and roster size, allowing for the recruitment of talented players on a national and international level, according to recent reports.