Welcome to The University of Oklahoma Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation Department. Our mission is to advocate for esports and showcase its opportunities. With our camps, we aim to inform and provide hands-on experiences for all interested.
Esports is more than just competitive video gaming; it’s about teamwork, competition, and strategy. Our camps serve as an introduction to the world of esports, teaching participants what it means to be a teammate, a competitor, and a playmaker.
At OU Esports Camps, our programming is designed to cater to various audiences, exclusively tailored for competitive players. Led by coaches and captains from our official OU teams, our camps aim to develop competitive players and enhance their skill sets through mentorship and performance enhancement. Drawing from our active developments, our team comprises vetted upperclassmen, alumni, and ECCI employees, ensuring a diverse range of expertise and mentorship. We offer a comprehensive curriculum covering gameplay mechanics, teamwork, and leadership skills, providing impactful opportunities for potential recruits to OU and the next generation of Sooners. Our camps prioritize creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where every camper feels supported and motivated to excel.
The cost of attending OU ECCI Summer Camps varies depending on the camp type and duration. Detailed pricing information can be found at [insert website], along with instructions on how to register and make payments. Each camp has a specific fee associated with it, ranging from $90 and up. Payment can be made securely through our online portal using major credit cards, debit cards, or electronic transfers.
At the University of Oklahoma Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation Summer Camps, we offer more than just gaming; we provide a pathway to formally represent the University of Oklahoma. Our camps serve as a gateway to exploring scholarship and academic opportunities in various esports-related fields. With our guidance, participants can make well-educated decisions about their educational journey in esports. Join us to embark on an exciting journey of growth, learning, and exploration in the world of gaming and esports. Register now to secure your spot and take the first step towards unlocking your full potential in the gaming industry. We can’t wait to see you there!
When: July 7-10
Coach: Joshua "Thumper" Riesenberg
Credentials: OU Competition Oversight Coordinator
When: July 14-18
Coach: John "Popcorn" Morgan
Credentials: Current OU Valorant Head Coach + OU Asst. Competition Oversight Lead
Details:
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!. We accept all major credit cards and if you are signing up with teammates or as a school please email esports@ou.edu beforehand so can ensure your specific needs are handled as best as possible.
Designed for educators, club sponsors, and aspiring coaches, the Esports Coaches Camp provides four evenings of virtual training focused on how to structure, manage, and grow esports teams. Led by Joshua "Thumper" Riesenberg, the sessions cover practical strategies, player development, and real-world challenges in the scholastic scene. Each night includes two hours of interactive instruction and Q&A. The $90 signup fee is discounted for districts sending multiple participants. Ideal for coaches seeking foundational knowledge and peer collaboration.
The Valorant Camp is a five-day virtual intensive for players seeking to improve their skills in Riot Games’ premier tactical shooter. Led by OU’s Valorant Head Coach John “Popcorn” Morgan, the camp delivers focused training on teamplay, mechanics, and in-game communication. Students participate in three hours of daily live instruction with feedback and drills. The $150 signup fee includes a group discount for schools or teams. Perfect for individuals or teams serious about taking the next step in competitive Valorant.
We are only interested in providing programming we have execution and expertise in. The titles we develop curriculum for are programs that have over a year of execution throughout the school year and their coaching staff is vetted to be professional, articulate, and respectful.
It is no mystery everyone’s sensitivities to potentially violent video games differ, however, we look at it as an opportunity to provide mentorship about technique, emotional control, and sportsmanship because they are playing them already. This is how we can contribute to positive community influence versus just turning our back to them. Games that are rated “M” are treated the same as those that are not from the curriculum development standpoint. These camps are not designed for day 1 beginners, but are for those that have put at least a little time into the game/topic already and desire coaching. Parents are involved in the registration process and are made aware of what they are subscribing to.
Naturally, we are students, staff, faculty, and alumni of The University of Oklahoma. We are proud advocates of our university. As we continue to elevate the esports topic, we are just one opportunity that exists at OU. It all starts with visiting www.ou.edu, but it doesn’t stop there. We are plugged in with our admissions and recruitment energies at the university level and promote conversation with them directly. We will gladly give you a very warm introduction to our personnel that can answer OU specific questions outside of the esports opportunities.
We know you’re interested in representing the University of Oklahoma formally in a licensed jersey, on a scholarship, and studying what you love. We’ve been working on all the above since 2016! That aside there are tons of degrees that correlate to esports career fields. Journalism, engineering, business to name a few. You can get scholarships through academic excellence also and is the cornerstone for our foundational focus on your academics always coming first.
REAL TALK: Esports in the educational sector is still very young in both K-12 and Higher Ed. There are many opportunities already popping up across the U.S. We are firm believers that we collectively owe it to our future generations to provide them with information and guidance to make a well-educated decision. Anybody entering and exiting educational journeys in the industry of esports is a win for everyone REGARDLESS of the brand and location.
Our camp coaches and staff are a small portion of our much larger organization. We have OU staff, students, and alumni involved in helping build this extension of our developments. In Summer 2020, and as the COVID impacts stopped practically all programming everywhere, we started offering virtual summer camps as one of the only departments at The University of Oklahoma. In doing so we started to mature our own practices of developing summer camps, growing coaches, mentoring youth, and diversifying our programs to fill in the Summer months. Thanks to this collective efforts of our Intercollegiate Esports pillar we are able to scale up camps programming to provide synergy across differing titles and continue to build our legacy in the space.
OU Esports:
OU Gaming Club: