Oklahoma Baptist University’s (OBU) Bison Esports is off to a successful start as their Smash Bros. team earned second place in the Great American Conference.
“We are looking to carry that momentum into our games next semester,” said Glen Simpson, OBU Bison Esports coach. “In the spring semester, we will be offering Overwatch 2, Rocket League and potentially Valorant as games to be played competitively.”
Glen Simpson coaches the new OBU Bison Esports program. OBU’s Smash Bros. team earned second place in the Great American Conference.
Simpson is OBU’s first coach for this exciting new program.
The Brant and Leslie Hill Bison Esports Arena, located in the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center, is the home of Bison Esports. The new state-of-the-art facility came at no additional cost to OBU or the students thanks to donations and support of those such as Brant and Leslie Hill of Bison Construction Services, Steve Irby, president and founder of Kicker Performance Audio and the Tulsa Royalties Company.
Esports has quickly grown into a highly organized and competitive industry, and the new Bison Esports program is designed to be a major player in this space. OBU’s esports teams are competing in the Great American Conference, facing off against 11 other universities for the coveted conference title. The arena’s state-of-the-art facilities house competitive gaming PCs, allowing teams to play side by side and enhancing communication and strategy.
Simpson’s journey to OBU is rooted in both education and a lifelong love of gaming. Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Simpson moved to Enid during his childhood and later attended Covington-Douglas Public Schools. He pursued a fine arts degree at OBU in 2013, later adding a second degree in English before graduating cum laude in 2018.
“I’ve been playing video games since I was 4 years old, and they’ve always been a huge part of my life,” Simpson reflected. “When I began teaching at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, I had the opportunity to help start their esports program. It was an incredible experience, and I knew this was a field I wanted to pursue further.”
Simpson’s time at U.S. Grant High School helped lay the foundation for his coaching career. Starting with limited resources—just a Smartboard and personal gaming consoles—he and his colleague Nicholas Casorio successfully grew the program, leading high school teams to state-level competitions. Now, as head coach of OBU’s Bison Esports, Simpson strives to build a program that not only competes at the highest level but also connects students through a shared love of gaming and faith.
“Video games are a great way to connect with people who might not otherwise be reached,” Simpson shared. “I believe this program can be a vehicle to reach gamers out there who don’t know Christ. My hope and prayer for OBU’s esports program is that it becomes a place where we cultivate a community that loves God, loves people and pushes back darkness through gaming.”
Simpson said the OBU Bison Esports program is a transformative addition to the university, providing students with a unique combination of competitive gaming, spiritual growth, and career-building opportunities.
