June 9, 2020

John Wood Community College Names First Esports Head Coach

Trevor Finton is charged with starting the new Esports program

John Wood Community College Director of Athletics Brad Hoyt has announced Coach Trevor Finton has been hired as the College’s new Esports head coach. Coach Finton is the first coach hired as the athletic department expands going into the fall of 2020.

Coach Finton, originally from Texas, is a resident of Quincy and works at the Bank of Springfield. Finton has an extensive background in multiple Esports gaming titles and is excited to grow the Trail Blazer Esports program through the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

JWCC Athletics is a member of the NJCAA, which recently sanctioned Esports and created an Esports league. The NJCAA league currently features the games Madden NFL, Rocket League, FIFA20, Overwatch and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Additonal gaming opportunities will also be available in options such as CS-GO, Call of Duty, and League of Legends. The John Wood Board of Trustees approved the addition of Esports in February of this year and the team will begin play this fall.

JWCC anticipates an initial roster of 15 players for the co-ed Esports team. Scholarships are available for players interested in joining the program. The College has established an Esports "arena" which includes high-tech computers designed specifically for competitive gaming. 

Students interested in attending JWCC and playing on the Esports team may email Coach Brad Hoyt at bhoyt@jwcc.edu or call 217-641-4975. Coach Finton may also be reached at tfinton@jwcc.edu or esports@jwcc.edu. More information can be found at www.jwcc.edu/esports