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Ohio Wesleyan's Nevin Horne Named NACE's 2026 Esports Emerging Director of the Year
DELAWARE, Ohio – The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) has named Nevin Horne, director and head coach of Ohio Wesleyan University's Esports Program, as its 2026 Emerging Director of the Year.
NACE, the largest association of varsity collegiate esports programs in North America, describes the award as honoring new directors who display "outstanding leadership and mentorship, while actively advocating for ethical practices and sustainability. They display outstanding abilities in the development of their program, whether it be competitively, academically, or within their community. Their commitment is demonstrated through impacts across collegiate esports."
Horne joined Ohio Wesleyan as esports director in February 2025 and was one of six finalists for the 2026 Emerging Director of the Year award. He was chosen through a combination of votes by NACE schools and a panel of nonprogram NACE staff. Horne was recognized at the association's annual meeting in July.
"This award really just reinforced what I already believed, that the work Ohio Wesleyan, my students, and I are doing is catching notice across the entire landscape," said Horne, a 2020 OWU alumnus. "Plus, I think it is recognition of the work I have done to progress the overall field, from founding the Rust Belt (NACE Midwest conference), to my work on the Competition Council redefining the entire NACE varsity experience. I have been enabled to be a true global and engaged citizen in esports."
During his first full year as OWU's esports director and head coach, Horne led the Battling Bishops to national NACE playoffs in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) in the fall and Rocket League in the spring. Outside of NACE, the Marvel Rivals won their Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division in the fall and took fourth place in the spring. In addition, the Rocket League and SSBU teams made the Great Lakes Esports Conference playoffs.
Sophomore Liam Gerdes, an SSBU player from Grandview Heights, Ohio, said Horne is an ideal coach, ensuring that students challenge themselves appropriately and still have fun.
"Coach Horne is genuinely a major reason I went to OWU," Gerdes said of the NACE award-winner. "Esports have always been very important to me, and Coach was one of the first faces of OWU I met. I could tell he took his job seriously, and I could also tell he wanted the best for his teams. Throughout the year, he organized several travel opportunities for my teammates and me, consistently found us games and scrimmages, and pushed us to become better.
"I think what Coach Horne does best for the team is make it a communal experience, Gerdes continued. "With traveling and activities, I've made many of my closest friends through the esports team. Without that communal feeling, it would be incredibly hard to stay motivated, and I am thankful for the team experience I had."
Before joining Ohio Wesleyan, Horne helped to design and launch the esports program at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Previously, he served as the Overwatch coach at the University of Houston, Texas, and as the project manager of tournament operations for Generation Esports in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ohio Wesleyan launched the Battling Bishops esports program in fall 2021, with full competition beginning the following year. As of this fall, OWU esports athletes will compete in the games Fortnite, League of Legends, Mario Kart, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Rocket League, Splatoon 3, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Valorant.
Learn more about the OWU esports program and follow the team on Discord, YouTube, and Twitch with links available at owu.edu/esports. Learn more about enrolling at Ohio Wesleyan at owu.edu/admission.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.