Adam Stanley joins Baylor after growing a successful eSports program at Brewton-Parker College.
WACO, Texas — Esports, one of the newest and fastest-growing type of sport, is about to expand in Central Texas after Baylor University named Adam Stanley to be its first eSports director and coach on Monday.
Stanley joins Baylor after developing Brewton-Parker College into a successful eSports program, recording an impressive record last season and building a team that competed in games such as Rocket League, Fortnite, Smash and more.
Baylor will host the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation’s Undisputed State Championships May 1 through May 3 at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. Over 1,500 high school competitors from across the state are expected to attend.
In December 2024, Baylor hosted the Texas Esports Fall Finals, which included more than 500 competitors.
The Bears hope Stanley can carry success into the place where he earned a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in 2012.
As program director, the former Bear will be able to recruit eSports student-athletes and offer scholarships.
“I’m humbled to have the opportunity to help build a comprehensive eSports program at Baylor,” said Stanley. “Esports and gaming culture can be a powerful tool for students to thrive – socially, emotionally, academically, competitively and spiritually. I’m thrilled that the institution I love recognizes the transformational potential of this massive, yet largely unengaged student population.”
“As the scholastic eSports ecosystem continues to grow, both collegiately and at the K-12 level, Baylor has a tremendous opportunity to inspire, guide and provide structure to students and programs eager for direction,” Stanley continued.
Since 2021 at Brewton-Parker, a private Baptist-affiliated college in Georgia, Stanley’s teams were the 2022-23 Rocket League Champions of the Georgia Esports League, the 2023-24 Valorant Champions of the Southeastern Esports League and the Spring 2024 Eastern Collegiate Athletics Conference Fortnite (Trios) and Valorant Champions. Stanley, who also served as associate vice president of student development at Brewton-Parker, is on the board of directors for the National Association of Collegiate Esports.
Stanley is expected to participate in community gaming efforts of Baylor’s current club-level team, OSO Esports, while he oversees Baylor Esports. He is set to collaborate closely with the school’s Division of Marketing and Communications and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions regarding marketing and student recruitment.
Stanley will also work alongside academic units such as the School of Engineering and Computer Science to support the university’s strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer Jason Cook called Stanley “the perfect fit to build and lead Baylor Exports.”
“He deeply understands our Christian mission to develop students into worldwide leaders and our institutional desire to compete at the highest levels, whether that’s in the classroom, research labs, intercollegiate athletics and now in eSports. He is extremely well-respected in national esports circles and will immediately put Baylor on the collegiate esports map,” Cook stated.
Stanley looks forward to his return to Waco.
“I’m confident that Baylor Esports will soon serve as a tangible example of Baylor’s Christian stewardship and Kingdom purposes in action. This program will be a catalyst for good, both on and off our beautiful campus,” Stanley explained.