Tyler Lloyd (he/him) is the esports coach at Crowder College and has been for the past year. Lloyd became involved in esports due to his lifelong passion for gaming and helping others become more effective and positive individuals. He believes esports brings people together and offers numerous opportunities for individuals from an array of backgrounds to compete toward a common goal.

“We are aiming for our first national championship wins in a few titles and are extremely excited to have reached the top 8 in the playoffs of most of our competitions. Continuing to share higher values with our students is one of my top priorities, as our institution focuses on developing honorable and responsible citizens for our community,” Lloyd said. “The NJCAAE offers a tremendous opportunity for junior colleges to compete on a level playing field and work with one another to develop a growing industry. It also provides international students with opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.”

Lloyd explained the best part of his job is seeing his students' excitement as they make breakthroughs in their skills, both in life and gaming and watching a positive attitude push the team forward. Once everyone is on the same page on the team, he believes his job becomes a lot easier for everyone involved.

When asked to describe his job using one word, Lloyd responded with “dream.” Building the esports industry by starting small with high schools and working up to Division 1 universities, is key to the growth of what he sees as the "dream job." For Lloyd, creating an inclusive and dynamic esports community is at the core of many programs across the country.

Lloyd’s passion for esports and his dedication to developing a strong, inclusive community is central to his work at Crowder College. As he continues to build the foundation for future success, he remains focused on creating opportunities for all students to thrive, both in gaming and in life.