BOISE, Idaho – Boise State University announced today that Boise State Esports, the most successful collegiate esports program in NCAA Division I FBS, will move from the College of Innovation and Design to the Boise State Department of Athletics beginning in Fall 2025. The program, which will not be a sponsored Division I sport as part of the athletics umbrella, will continue to operate out of its 7,000-square-foot arena, broadcast studio, and training facility at 301 W. Capitol Blvd in downtown Boise.
“We welcome our national-champion Boise State Esports program to the athletics side of the house,” said Jeramiah Dickey, Boise State Director of Athletics. “We believe the potential of the Boise State Esports strengthens not only our athletic department but the entire university – from showcasing our Esports student-athletes to new audiences, to brand advancement, to the revenue generation opportunities. We also have the best esports coach in the country in Doc, and his leadership has already positioned Boise State Esports for What’s Next!”
Program Legacy and National Impact
Boise State is recognized as the premier Division I collegiate esports program in the country. Since its founding in 2017—following then-President Bob Kustra’s bold vision that Boise State would become “the Alabama of Esports”—the program has exceeded all expectations. Under the leadership of head coach Doc Haskell, the Broncos have amassed a national-best record of 1,514 wins and 676 losses, more than any of the over 800 universities with official esports programs and more than any head coach, active or retired.
The Broncos have dominated in competition, securing 13 Mountain West Championships and 6 National Titles since the Mountain West officially sanctioned esports in 2018. Their 7,000-square-foot facility includes a competition arena, training space, and a cutting-edge broadcast studio from which the team produces over 30 hours of live content weekly, positioning Boise State as a national leader in collegiate esports media and operations.
“We’ve always believed that what we were building was bigger than games—it was a vision for a sustainable, competitive, and community-driven future,” said Doc Haskell, head coach of Boise State Esports. “Joining Athletics gives us the platform and resources to take that to the next level.”
Next Steps
Boise State Esports will formally integrate with Athletics operations in July 2025, aligning with fall semester planning and competitive scheduling. The program’s downtown arena will continue to host competitions, public events, training, and broadcasts as part of the university’s athletic footprint.
About Boise State Athletics
Boise State sponsors 18 NCAA Division I sports and is a member of the Mountain West Conference. Defined by What’s Next, the Broncos have earned a reputation for academic and competitive excellence. This past year, Boise State won a combined seven team conference championships, the most in an academic year more than 30 years, along with nine individual conference titles. In the classroom, the Broncos boasted a 3.46 cumulative GPA across all teams, which matched the department record. Following the recent success, Boise State is positioned for What’s Next, with the ongoing construction of the North End Zone Project at Albertsons Stadium and upcoming transition to the Pac-12 Conference starting in July 2026.