In 2019, Illinois State University made the bold decision to invest in esports in a way that many public universities had not yet done. The vision was clear, a program built on four main pillars: competitive, club, casual, and career. Despite the uncertainty of 2020 and 2021, the program moved forward, and Redbird Esports was born.
Thanks to a group of passionate and highly-skilled students, as well as strong leadership from professional staff, the quality of varsity-level competitive play immediately earned Illinois State both national recognition and multiple championships in the esports world.
While the competitive teams have sustained success and continued winning accolades across the country, the landscape of higher education has also continued to shift and change. Many of these changes have prompted the question: What does success in collegiate esports look like moving forward? While every institution is going to have to answer that question based on their own terms, size, and resources, Illinois State University has decided to refocus and make some changes to its own esports program. Despite success and strong interest in esports, the current financial uncertainty surrounding higher education has made maintaining that success, specifically the requirements of varsity play, unsustainable.
What this means for the immediate future is that Illinois State will no longer offer scholarships to field varsity-level teams. This also means Redbirds Esports will no longer employ full-time varsity coaches on staff. While these changes will not take effect until July 1, this decision has been communicated early to both players and coaches. All operations will continue as normal through June of this year. All players currently on scholarship will have the opportunity to extend that scholarship for an additional academic year (fall 2025-spring 2026), to give them the opportunity to either complete their time at Illinois State or decide what and where their next steps will be. The Redbird Esports staff, as well as staff across the Division of Student Affairs, will work closely with each affected individual.
While this is understandably difficult news for some, Illinois State’s commitment to a meaningful and successful esports program has not changed. Though not easy, these decisions will better position Redbird Esports to invest in the club, casual, and career pillars of its program. This will not only have the widest positive impact for the whole of campus, it will also be a more sustainable path forward.
Casual play within the esports facility will remain unaffected, with all students having the same access they have always enjoyed. Teams will still be competitive, and there will still be tournaments and trophies, but these will now happen at the club level. In the past, esports has relied on a student-led coach/manager role, and this will be utilized again, creating additional career pathways and opportunities for those students.
Additionally, the University will provide more opportunities for prospective students and community members to experience the Redbird Esports space and program. This will allow for stronger partnerships with both area schools and the community in general. The esports arena will remain a wonderful gathering space for Redbirds and community members.
Redbird Esports has been a trendsetter and industry leader since its inception and that initial vision of what makes a truly successful program has not changed. Where there is change, there is also opportunity, and this is an opportunity to meet the challenges of today while still providing Illinois State students, and the surrounding community, a thriving and impactful esports program for many years to come.
