This article is shared courtesy of Jonathan Sirotin on LinkedIn as part of his series entitled Esports Founders. To see the original article, please click here

Recently, NECC Commissioner Jacob VanRyn talked with Jonathan Sirotin, who does a weekly feature on members of the esports community, about the NECC and other issues in collegiate esports.

What happens when you bring traditional athletic leadership into the wild world of esports?

We sat down with Jacob VanRyn, Commissioner and CEO of the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), to talk about his journey from working in the traditional athletic world to building one of the largest collegiate esports leagues in North America. Jacob brings a fresh perspective to the space as a self-proclaimed outsider, but his deep understanding of student-athlete development, program structure, and community-first values has helped shape the NECC into a trusted ecosystem for hundreds of schools.

Q: Jacob, your background is rooted in traditional sports. What pulled you into esports, and how did that transition happen?

It started when I was Commissioner of the New England Collegiate Conference. A few of our member schools had esports programs, and they said, “We want to do something with this at the conference level.” I had no idea what that meant at the time, but I knew if we were going to do it, it had to be real. We weren’t going to just throw together a Rocket League tournament over a weekend and say we sponsored esports, we wanted to support the title in a way that was authentic and meaningful to the community.

I was introduced to Caleb Glube, an intern at the time, who helped me understand the space. What really hooked me wasn’t just the games — it was the community. I’d worked in Division II and III athletics, where things could be very territorial. But in esports, people were generous, collaborative, and truly wanted to see others succeed. That spirit was unlike anything I’d seen.

Q: What has that journey looked like since then? Where is the NECC today?

Today, we work with around 500 colleges and universities across North America. Some have robust varsity programs, while others are just starting out. It’s been a labor of love, especially with such a small core team, but we’ve focused on supporting every program the best we can, regardless of budget. I’m proud that we’ve helped schools with limited resources provide a great competitive experience. That’s really the heart of what we do.

Q: One of the big issues in esports is the relationship between community and game publishers. What has your experience been working with them?

It’s been mixed. Some are indifferent. Others provide community licenses but not much beyond that. Then there are rare cases like EA, which reached out to us to help bring Apex Legends into collegiate esports. That level of engagement is incredibly rare but promising. Riot, surprisingly, has also been great to work with. Despite stories we’d heard early on, they’ve supported our efforts with VALORANT and recognized what we were building.

Ultimately, publisher support is everything. Unlike traditional sports where no one owns basketball, game publishers own the intellectual property. They can shut down your whole league with one email. That’s a scary reality for us, and something the industry needs to figure out.

Q: What value do you think NECC brings to publishers? What can you offer them that they might not realize?

We bring a passionate, engaged collegiate community. These are students who are already playing the games, we’re just helping create a more meaningful competitive structure around that. If publishers support us, they get brand loyalty, deeper community engagement, and educational ecosystems built around their titles. That’s long-term value, not short-term marketing.

We’ve never asked for a dollar from any publisher. But real support would mean more than licenses. It’s integration, visibility, co-branded events, and ideally financial backing to help us scale and sustain what we’re doing.

Q: Let’s shift to the collegiate space itself. What makes it so unique and full of potential?

It’s where I’ve spent most of my career, so it feels like home. But what makes it special is the broader value it provides beyond just competition. Esports can offer educational growth, professional development, and community-building opportunities at scale.

Take the University of Oklahoma, for example. They have a massive esports club with 3,500 students, and they use it for so much more than just competition. Their program supports everything from journalism to social media marketing to educational offerings. It’s deeply integrated into campus life and serves as a powerful platform for student involvement and opportunity. They really live by their motto that gaming is for everyone and everyone is welcome.

At its best, collegiate esports is what college sports should be — a tool to enrich and enhance the student-athlete experience, not just chase revenue.

Q: Coming from traditional athletics, what lessons or structure have you brought into esports?

One of the first things we did was set up a code of conduct and a governance structure. People love to call collegiate esports the Wild West, but it doesn’t have to be. We believe in eligibility standards, GPA minimums, and compliance. The same things you’d expect from a traditional sport. Playing on your Esports team and representing your school is a privilege, not a right, and we want to treat it with the same level of seriousness and care.

But structure is just one piece. We’re also focused on helping programs tell their stories. That includes giving them the tools to advocate for funding, demonstrate retention and graduation rates, and communicate their value to university leadership.

Q: What’s the vision for NECC going forward? What are the obstacles you’re facing?

Our biggest obstacle is financial, without question. We’ve done a lot with very little, but to grow and provide even better experiences, we need more resources. That’s just the reality.

The vision is to continue evolving both competitively and holistically. We want to work with every type of program, from varsity teams to casual clubs, and use esports as a gateway for opportunity, learning, and community. We also would love to continue to work more closely with publishers like the one we’ve started with EA. That’s a meaningful step, and we hope it leads to more.

Most of all, we want to keep listening, adapting, and getting better. Every challenge we’ve faced has helped us mature as an organization. We’re far from perfect, but we’re transparent, community-driven, and committed to doing this the right way.

Wrapping It Up

Jacob VanRyn is one of the few leaders in esports who brings the structure of traditional athletics and blends it with the collaborative spirit of gaming. Through NECC, he’s helped hundreds of colleges access meaningful competitive experiences, advocate for their programs, and bring new legitimacy to collegiate esports.

His vision is clear, a future where esports doesn’t just exist on campuses but thrives as an educational, social, and career-driving force. It’s not just about who wins the next tournament. It’s about building something lasting, equitable, and empowering.

About Jacob VanRyn

Jacob VanRyn is the Commissioner and CEO of the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), a leading collegiate esports league representing hundreds of institutions across North America. A career traditional sports administrator turned esports advocate, Jacob brings decades of experience in program development, student-athlete advocacy, and community building. His work focuses on integrating esports into the broader educational experience, with a commitment to accessibility, structure, and long-term growth.

About the NECC
The NECC fosters innovative competition experiences, provides quality broadcasting services, and works to support an inclusive community within collegiate esports. The NECC was started to provide the collegiate gaming community with the respect it warranted and deserved. The conference prides itself on responding to the needs of its schools, directors, coaches, and most importantly - its players.

With more than 500 colleges and universities currently competing, the NECC strives to be a positive home for the collegiate gaming community.

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