A recent Transylvania University graduate has become the school’s first esports alum to be offered a paid position in that fast-growing industry.
Max Pendleton starts a graduate assistantship this fall with the esports program at Georgia’s Kennesaw State University. He joined a Transylvania team as a sophomore when the program first launched, and he played each subsequent year, serving as manager of the Overwatch 2 squad.
Transylvania students compete in the National Esports Collegiate Conference on a variety of teams, which last season also included League of Legends, Marvel Rivals, Chess, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League.
At Kennesaw State, Pendleton’s new role will be similar to what he did as a manager at Transylvania, but expanded to include assisting with coaching along with logistics like coordinating team trips.
Transylvania esports coach Dylan Osborne pointed out how job opportunities are increasingly opening up in the industry and joining programs like his can help students pursue a career along this path. “I would strongly urge any incoming college students to find leadership roles as early as possible in their collegiate esports program if they’re looking to make a career in esports,” he said.
Competition for these roles is fierce, so networking helps. Osborne, who worked closely with Pendleton in the process, said the “network created by the NECC has made it easier than ever to find an opportunity working in esports and gaming.” Plus: “Max is an exemplary student and has worked hard to advocate for himself in finding this position.”
The accounting major and music minor from Louisville plans to pursue an MBA focused on cybersecurity (which he said the assistantship will essentially pay for). Then Pendleton hopes to continue in the esports industry after graduate school, possibly starting out as a coach.
As a gamer at Transylvania, he found a tight-knit community and way to get more engaged in college life. “Reaching out to student organizations is important as a way to make friends on campus,” said Pendleton, who also played for the Super Smash Bros. squad and helped set up a weekend tournament of Marvel Rivals.
“I enjoyed getting to know people on my team and learning how they play, coming together with our own synergies,” he said.