Johnny Dalton named Walters State Esports Coordinator
MORRISTOWN, TN – Johnny Dalton was a member of Walters State's inaugural Esports team in 2023 and now, he'll have the chance to run the program.
On Friday, Dalton was officially announced as Walters State's Esports Coordinator.
"I am tremendously excited to be the new Esports coordinator," Dalton said. "I believe the transition from a player and student into a coach and team leader offers a unique perspective on the needs of the program and its players. I intend to work with all of our team members to provide an environment where they can grow academically as well as professionally and thrive in our program while doing so."
Dalton was on the Call of Duty team for Walters State in 2023, and that role should benefit him greatly when it comes to coaching the team now.
"Being a member of the team for the very first semester allowed me to be directly involved with decision making and helping to get everyone on the same page," Dalton said. "We definitely felt like we had a lot to prove. The way that translates over to a coaching role is that I have intimate knowledge of the way our teams work and play together. I know what the team's goals are and how determined they are to win. The way we continue to achieve success is to provide an environment where our players feel valuable to the team, they are worked with consistently so that their skills in the game improve and that their individual success is important too."
Dalton can trace his Esports days back to 2009, when he started playing competitively. Dalton said that he played in some in-person Halo tournaments before trying out for the Walters State team last year. Dalton made the team, something he said was a dream.
"Playing in MLG and Game Battles ladders with friends from school when I was younger got me into the world of Esports," Dalton said. "It was always a dream of mine to play at a higher level and compete on a stage with people watching, so when I got the opportunity to try out for the team I couldn't pass it up. Trying out and ending up being a part of the team was like making a childhood dream a reality and that is the most incredible feeling in the world."
As far as the goals for the team, Dalton said he wants to continue to grow the program in year two of its existence.
"The more players we have, the bigger the impact on lives we have," Dalton said. "As a coach, it is really important to me that we grow our program into a beacon of excellence. I want people to hear about Walters State Esports and say to themselves 'They have a lot of really great players over there; they must really have it figured out.' I want students coming to us because we are the best at what we do and they want to be the best at what they do."
The Esports season is set to begin again in the fall of 2024 and will carry over into the spring of 2025. Dalton encourages anyone interested to come out for the team and give it a shot.
"You have nothing to lose, but everything to gain," Dalton said would be his message to those on the fence. "Come and tryout for the team and see how you compare to the other players. You just might find you are better than you think you are. We have people that will take you under their wing and take you to heights you never thought possible. Being a part of this team will not only help you in the game but in the real world too. Come and learn what it means to be a part of a team and work together to accomplish a goal."
If students are interested in learning more or want to join the Esports program, you can fill out a questionnaire here: https://www.wsccathletics.com/sports/esports/Esports_Questionnaire.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics