Inside DSU’s Esports

Esports at Dakota State University has continued to grow and has become one of the most competitive scenes on campus. DSU competes at the varsity level in games like League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, and many more. The teams are structured like traditional sports, with full rosters, coaches, and organized practice times.

Each game has its own lineup. Valorant and Counter Strike both run 5-player teams, Rocket League has a 3-player roster, and similarly, Marvel Rivals has 6 main players and some games even have their substitutes. This program is led by head coach Andy Roland and assistants Evan Lawson, and they often get support from student coordinators as well. These teams mainly compete in organized collegiate competitions throughout the year.

The new DSU Esports Arena in the Beacom PREMIER Complex (opened fall 2024) provides a home for Trojan esports athletes. This brand-new room on the second floor of DSU’s Beacom PREMIER Complex is a major milestone. It gives players an upgraded practice and competition space, packed with high-end gaming PCs, about 25 PCs, and a full streaming/broadcasting setup on the second floor of Beacom PREMIER Complex. Andy says he is planning to expand the room even more within the next 5 years.

Recent Highlights

The Trojans have piled up a lot of wins lately. This past fall, the Rocket League team completely dominated: they ran an undefeated season, finishing with 19-0 in CCL (Colligate Champions League) play. Valorant also did have incredible performance, even with the new team, the Trojans advanced to the CCL title match, but they ultimately fell to UNO in the final.

This season has been going really strong for the Trojans as Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, and League of Legends remain undefeated. Rainbow 6 Siege rebounded convincingly with a 2–0 win over Montana State, showing noticeable growth from the roster. 

In addition to this, there have also been some casual and semi-competitive games that have recently started, like Roblox and Clash Royale. The Clash Royale team is also heading strong as they are hosting their first on-campus Mega Draft tournament in the Esports Room at the Beacom.

Interview with Andy Roland, Esports Director at Dakota State University

Q: How would you describe the current state of the esports program at DSU?

Andy said the program is thriving. DSU now has individual coaches for each game and a growing number of participants. Over the past six years, the program has continued to expand both competitively and structurally.

Q: What has been the biggest area of growth in recent years?

According to Andy, moving into the Beacom Premier Complex was a major step forward. The upgraded space has allowed the program to operate with more resources and greater visibility on campus.

Q: What makes DSU’s esports program different from other schools?

Andy emphasized structure and support. He explained that many collegiate esports programs lack organization, while DSU provides strong administrative backing, clear team structure, and university-wide attention. He noted that DSU offers more resources than many comparable programs.

Q: Where do you see the program in the next 3–5 years?

Andy said he wants DSU to build a stronger presence in high school Esports through recruiting events and summer camps. He also hopes to fully complete and expand the esports room with additional equipment and upgrades.

Q: What recent achievement are you most proud of?

Rather than focusing only on wins, Andy said he is most proud of watching team leaders like Billey and Kaiser develop into stronger players and leaders and essentially into coaches now.

Q: How important is the Esports Arena inside the Beacom Premier Complex to the program’s success?
Andy said the Esports room provides the team with more resources and a professional environment, which helps the program continue to grow competitively.

Q: How does the university support esports compared to traditional athletics?
Andy stated that the university supports esports the same way it supports traditional athletic programs.