Averett University named Colton Paul as its esports director in April 2022
Paul becomes the third esports director in the program’s history. Averett was the first four-year university in Virginia to add varsity esports — competitive video gaming with spectators — during the 2017-18 academic year.
“Averett University has shown its commitment to building a high-end esports program,” Paul said. “I am honored to be chosen to build the program to its potential. It is exciting to work with the Department of Athletics, university administrators and the students of Averett, as well as the community of Danville.”
Paul comes to Averett with experience as an esports director and coach. He served as esports director at the high school level while teaching at Odyssey Institute of Advanced and International Studies in Buckeye, Arizona, from 2015-19. He also coached football, soccer and tennis. Most recently, Paul has worked as a math tutor with the Huntington Learning Center in Henrico, Virginia.
“We are excited to welcome Colton Paul to the Averett family as our new esports director,” said Meg Stevens, vice president, director of athletics and campus operations. “His passion for coaching and teaching was evident during the interview process, and his ideas of how to continue to grow our esports program here at Averett set him apart. Our students will benefit from his mentorship and we are excited for the future of our esports program.”
Paul takes on the full-time role as esports director from Todd Blanton, who served as esports manager in a part-time role since December 2019. Blanton continues to serve Averett as technical director and audio engineer in the theatre department.
Averett's esports program currently competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), Mid-Atlantic eSport Conference (MAEC), National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), Starleague and Collegiate Rainbow Six. Averett has competed in nine different games during the 2021-22 academic year, and the Cougars made the playoffs in Rainbow Six and Valorant during the fall semester.
Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts in educational studies from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University in 2015. He earned his Master of Science in finance from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State in 2019.
“Colton Paul’s passion for leading a cutting-edge esports program is rooted in his value for bringing out the best in his students,” Averett President Tiffany M. Franks said. “His vast experience coaching high school esports teams gives him a particularly unique advantage in not only continuing to develop our program, but also recruiting future students in to be a part of Averett’s esports program.”
Paul, joins the Averett family along with his wife Angelica and son Atticus.
