The National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD) Announces National Esports Coach and Director of Year Award Des Moines, IA. – Adam Antor of Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL, has been named the college NAECAD National Esports Coach of the Year for 2021-22. Michele King of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, has been named the college NAECAD National Esports Director of the Year for 2021-22.
Mike Dahle of Elkhorn Area School District, Elkhorn, WI and the Wisconsin High School Esports Association, has been named the high school NAECAD National Coach of the Year for 2021-22. Julie Mavrogeorge of Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, CA, has been named the high school NAECAD National Director of the Year for 2021- 22, the NAECAD national office announced Tuesday.
Adam Antor of Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL, is currently the Director of Esports at Florida Southern College, an NCAA Division II private college. Antor was hired in September 2021 to lead the program, which fields teams in League of Legends (which Adam coaches), Overwatch, and Rocket League. Prior to his time at Florida Southern, Antor launched a high school esports team at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, he led the efforts in building the first high school esports lab in the state. Soon after, Antor was hired as the Head Esports Coach at Aquinas College, where he launched the school’s first varsity esports program. In its inaugural season, under his direction, the Aquinas Rocket League team finished 2nd in the country among all varsity programs, earning a trip to the NACE National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Antor has served on the West Michigan Sports Commission's Esports Task Force and has aided Steelcase and Herman Miller in their research on the gaming industry. He continues to be a resource for high schools and colleges exploring esports, assisting numerous programs in the early stages of their development. In fall 2021, Antor was selected as a Collegiate Ambassador of the Year Finalist at the Esports Awards.
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Michele King of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, is the Director of Esports and Director of the Academic & Applied Esports Program at William and Mary. Dr. King has collaborated with stakeholders to build the William and Mary Academic & Applied Esports Program as well as the competitive esports program. She has published articles, facilitated panels, taught courses, delivered podcasts, designed a minor, served on Electronic Gaming Federation (EFG) Board of Governors and was chosen to host EGF Nationals.
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Mike Dahle of Elkhorn Area School District, Elkhorn, WI and the Wisconsin High School Esports Association, is the Esports coach and director at Elkhorn Area High School and the President of the Wisconsin High School Esports Association. Shortly into Mike’s teaching career, a student gave a presentation on the League of Legends World Championships and because of that presentation his life has snowballed into esports. As a lifelong gamer, Mike was fascinated with how much esports has grown since he first heard of it and he wanted to be a part of it. Mike’s school started competing in the Star League, which was a large disappointment, so they were incredibly excited to be invited to a LAN tournament at Robert Morris. This is where the idea of creating a statewide association began. It started the following year with seven schools and in four years has grown to 100+ schools competing across the state. Mike has helped onboard most schools in Wisconsin and has helped other states develop associations.
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Julie Mavrogeorge of Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, CA, is the Esports Coordinator for the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD), as well as a Tech Support Specialist II, FUSD Tournament of Technology Coordinator, and FUeL Coordinator. Julie’s passion is helping people discover their full potential. She firmly believes the best way she can impact others in education is by assisting in the creation of innovative programs that provide access to flourishing college and career opportunities. Julie’s professional talents include Project
Management and Event Planning to maximize Program Development. In her current roles, she is privileged to collaborate with esports and technology industry professionals to assist school districts in developing district wide esports programs. Whether just starting out, or needing help connecting to resources to run a comprehensive K–12 Esports Program and multi-district tournament, Julie has helped many schools and districts start and successfully run their esports programs.
These prestigious awards recognize the outstanding leadership qualities a coach and director have made to its team, program, school, and to the entire esports ecosystem during the 2021-22 school year. To be eligible, coaches and directors must be nominated by a current NAECAD member, or a student athlete that is from an esports program with a current NAECAD member serving as their coach or director. The individual receiving this award will be recognized in the fall at the NAECAD Regional Clinic and will receive the NAECAD National Coach and Director of the Year trophy.
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