Joel Harvey is the completion coach and head esports coach at Columbia Basin College (CBC) and has spent the past three years building a collegiate esports program from the ground up. Since joining the college in 2022, Harvey has combined his passion for gaming with a background in student support to create a competitive and inclusive space for all students.

Harvey is no stranger to the esports scene. He began as a semi-professional and professional shoutcaster, providing commentary for various titles and organizations. While attending The Ohio State University, he competed as a Division I varsity Overwatch player. Before coming to CBC, he coached high school esports for a year.

“Esports is important to me because it has allowed myself to express my competitive nature in athletics and support other students that are looking for a similar opportunity to compete in sports after graduating high school but may not be able to play in other traditional sports due to injuries, interest, or physical restriction; The beauty of esports is that there is not a physical barrier for competing at a high level – only skill,” said Harvey.

At CBC, Harvey’s role allows him to support students both academically and competitively. He helps them identify and work toward their educational goals while also improving in-game performance.

The college now has what Harvey describes as a state-of-the-art esports arena, along with competitive varsity teams and a welcoming space for all gamers. The program also offers students the chance to develop skills in stream production, broadcasting and team management, experience that’s increasingly valuable in the esports industry.

In just a short amount of time, CBC’s esports team has had tremendous success. The Overwatch 2 team finished second in the NJCAAE Division I Fall 2024 season, and the Rocket League 3v3 team matched the feat in Spring 2025. Harvey credits these early successes to strong institutional support and student dedication.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the CBC team is optimistic. 

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with our teams this year to be dominant in the NJCAAE 2025-2026 Division I seasons in Rocket League, Overwatch 2, and Valorant,” he said. “Out of the multiple leagues I have shoutcasted for or have interacted with in competing or peers that competed/compete, I truly enjoy the NJCAAE’s vision on reflecting the association and esports in the mindset of traditional athletic sports. I think the new addition of being able to live-coach will be a revolutionary shift and I am excited to be in a program part of the NJCAAE to experience this freedom to be able to COACH during a match, just like any other athletic coach in traditional sports.”

Recruiting plays a critical role in the continued growth of CBC’s esports program. This fall, the college joined the Stay Plugged In (SPIN) esports recruiting platform, giving Harvey access to more than 15,000 college-bound prospects across the country. He also connects with students through Discord, promotes a recruitment interest form on the athletics website, and attends high school events, including the WSSEA State Finals, to scout local talent.

As a team, recruiting students is expected to secure continuous funding for their program, while also bringing in talent to compete in the NJCAAE. This season, the team has set its sights high.

“One of our overall goals for this upcoming year is for all three of our varsity teams to make it to Division I National Playoffs, as we did last year in the 2024–2025 seasons, with all teams being top four finishes,” said Harvey. “In addition, our players made individual team goals, ranging from an undefeated season in Overwatch 2, making Cval playoffs for Valorant, and finishing with no more than three losses for Rocket League.

“Also, beat Salt Lake Community College in all titles, as we are always in the same region and have an unspoken/spoken rivalry with them (Best of luck, Jeff Sosa)!”

Outside of his day-to-day responsibilities, Harvey stays active and connected with his students. He often works out with his teams, continues gaming in his downtime, and serves as the Game Master in a weekly Dungeons & Dragons group with friends.